Help!!!! Helping chicks hatch

[Ruler of the Roost]

No incubator. I just put a meat thermometer in there with the chicks. I’m not sure it’s calibrated though. Now we’re having rolling blackouts due to the storm. Wife is threatening to put the chicks in her bra…

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

@GodLovesU Ohhhh! They had both started that before we found the eggs. There were three hatched already, one was dead when I found the nest. Lacey’s babies always seem to have a lot of issues like this… so do her children’s babies … why are bantams so hard?

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

The meat thermometer pegged out at about 97 or 98 ish. I scooted them about an inch closer to the lamp.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

I would put them on a clean paper towel. Look to see if their yolk sac has been absorbed. If not set them in a cup on a paper towel and near the heat so they can finish absorbing and dry. They can live off of the yolk sac that they have for a day or two so don't try to force feed them. I have saved lots of my ducks this way and I pray that it works for you with your chicks. Good Luck.

Explain yolk sac... please.

 

[GodLovesU]

@GodLovesU Ohhhh! They had both started that before we found the eggs. There were three hatched already, one was dead when I found the nest. Lacey’s babies always seem to have a lot of issues like this… so do her children’s babies … why are bantams so hard?

Ok. It’s usually best to wait 24 hours after pipping to help them hatch.

 

[GodLovesU]

Explain yolk sac... please.

It’s what feeds the chick while they’re in the egg. The literal yolk of the egg. It will be attached the chicks belly and be yellow, orange, or red colored.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Ok. It’s usually best to wait 24 hours after pipping to help them hatch.

We had no way of knowing how long the chicks had been pipping for. Could have been in excess of 48 hours...This hen is 100% free range, I didn't even find the nest until we saw the babies following her around.

 

[GodLovesU]

We had no way of knowing how long the chicks had been pipping for. Could have been in excess of 48 hours...This hen is 100% free range, I didn't even find the nest until we saw the babies following her around.

Ohhhh ok.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

It’s what feeds the chick while they’re in the egg. The literal yolk of the egg. It will be attached the chicks belly and be yellow colored.

Yes, ok. I thought that was a placenta... I didn't see an actual sac, but there was still an umbilical-like cord attached. I could only see it on the one though the other still has the bottom half of the egg shell attached. I'm trying not to mess with them too much...I'm sure they are stressed enough. Also, there was one that had started pipping that definitely died in the shell. I found it like that with the other two. One was chirping in the egg, It thought the second one I kept was dead too. Wife convinced me to open it to be sure, and low and behold it started moving!

 

[GodLovesU]

Yes, ok. I thought that was a placenta... I didn't see an actual sac, but there was still an umbilical-like cord attached.

Can you post a picture?