Help Needed Chick struggling

[beth1004]

Last night, I was doing my rounds and found that one of the eggs under our broody hen had started to hatch. There was a small section of shell missing. We went to our meeting and when we came home, checked again. Things didn't seem to have progressed any. This morning I went out and they were my first stop. I expected to find a fluff ball. Instead, there doesn't appear to be any progress and the poor things beak was slowly opening and closing in my inexperienced eye, like it is struggling to breath. Mom is still sitting on it. What should I do? Leave it be and let nature take its course whichever way that may be. Try and help it out of the shell?

 

[SueT]

The chick opens and closes mouth like that while it is absorbing the yolk. Until then trying to open shell prematurely will cause bleeding, since veins are not absorbed. Give it time....
Good luck!

 

[beth1004]

Now a little of the back story, our little silkie, Betty White, decided that she really wanted to hatch out some babies so we decided lets go for it. I only gave her 2. I also realized that our Easter Egger was also broody. I put 3 eggs under her. We've moved them to the maternity ward as I've dubbed it. Things have seemed normal. I have found the eggs moved around a few times. Somehow, the Easter Egger, Hawk due to her coloring, would have 4 eggs and Betty only one. But all in all, just like the last time we let a broody hatch eggs. This morning, 2 of Hawk's eggs have pipped. I'm hoping for 5 adorable fluff balls.

I have another question, when we set them up in the maternity ward our temps were 90* during the day and no rain. Now, fall has decided to come and our temps are highs in the mid 60's and lows in the 50's. The maternity ward is our first coop what I'd call a starter coop. It has 2 nest boxes, a low (because everything is right on the ground) roosting bar, a poop tray and a small covered yard.

Every morning, I go out and open the little door so the momma's can stretch their legs, get some food and water and scratch around a little bit. Should I change this up any? Should I keep the door closed so the babies can't get out into the yard and bring the food and water inside? In the spring a broody hatched some babies and we just put her inside the coop in a large dog crate and put cardboard around the bottom half so the babies couldn't escape. I was afraid that the dog crated wouldn't be large enough for 2 adult chickens.

What are your thoughts?

thanks in advance.

 

[SueT]

My broody took her babies outside at 2 days old, I think we had lows in the 60's and it was rainy.
If you have lows in the 50's, I'm pretty sure mama can keep them warm. They'll go under her when they get cold.

 

[beth1004]

How often should I check on them today?

 

[beth1004]

Well, the one baby died before it ever completely hatched. One other hatched and one was in progress. Two eggs haven't started. Our little Silkie, Betty White, seemed upset about the baby that didn't make it so I took the egg that was in progress and gave it to her. Hawk has the chick.

 

[beth1004]

1 egg hasn’t hatched. Saturday was 21 days. How long do I leave it in there? The 2 moms and 3 babies seem to be doing well.

 

[SueT]

Is anyone sitting on that last egg?

 

[Anime2lover]

If shes not sitting on it, means shes given up on it to care for her chicks. You could try candling and incubating if you see movement.

 

[beth1004]

I went out yesterday and the egg had been abandoned. The mommas are working together. They bring the babies out in the run.