Help! Premature chick leg stuck in yoke sac

[Serenity2007]

Unless the first egg was in a very hot spot in the incubator, they should have all developed at relatively the same rate. So usually after the first few chicks hatch, I start to worry a bit about the ones that havent pipped yet (because they may be over 24 hours behind.)

If you have a way to candle the egg, shine the light through the fat end of the egg, where you should see the air cell. If you see a beak sticking up into the air cell area and movement up in there then it has internally pipped. Also, you can hold the egg up to your ear and if you hear peeping then it has internally pipped

Thank you. It did die. I buried it with my precious Fifi. I’m afraid the second one is going to have a bad leg problem, but it’s still alive so I have hope. I guess I can always try to fix its leg later when it’s healthier. But since I got it unstuck, it’s moving all over dragging itself in the incubator peeping like crazy.

 

[Serenity2007]

It is possibly still alive if you saw movement recently. You could open up the aircell and try to assist. Or place back in the incubator just in case.

There was a slight movement early this morning, but there hasn’t been anything since.

 

[Slothinc]

Thank you. It did die. I buried it with my precious Fifi. I’m afraid the second one is going to have a bad leg problem, but it’s still alive so I have hope. I guess I can always try to fix its leg later when it’s healthier. But since I got it unstuck, it’s moving all over dragging itself in the incubator peeping like crazy.

If it has a splay leg, you will want to put the brace on within the first 24 hours. It is easy to do and can prevent a lifetime of leg issues. I have fixed dozens of splay leg chicks over the years.

 

[Slothinc]

If you have B vitamin complex, I would also suggest giving some of that to the chick with the leg issue. So sorry about the loss of the 3rd chick. It is hard to know when to intervene.

 

[Serenity2007]

I think your chick possibly has a splay leg. That is probably why the leg is sticking straight out back and it isn’t walking. Here is an article I wrote about how I brace splay leg chicks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/easy-brace-for-splay-leg-chicks.80050/

I think your chick possibly has a splay leg. That is probably why the leg is sticking straight out back and it isn’t walking. Here is an article I wrote about how I brace splay leg chicks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/easy-brace-for-splay-leg-chicks.80050/

Did I do it right? She’s too weak to stand up. She’s about 10 hours old now.

 

[Slothinc]

That looks okay for now. You did great for your first time! But usually I wait until they are ready to come out of the incubator.

I would suggest giving a few drops of sugar water or apple juice right now to help perk up the chick. Just put a drop on your fingertip and put it on the tip of the chicks beak. They can easily aspirate so dont force anything into their mouth.

I would also try to take the chick out out and put it in the brooder if it does perk up (but keep an eye on the other chick to make sure it isn’t being bullied.)

 

[Serenity2007]

That looks okay for now. You did great for your first time! But usually I wait until they are ready to come out of the incubator.

I would suggest giving a few drops of sugar water or apple juice right now to help perk up the chick. Just put a drop on your fingertip and put it on the tip of the chicks beak. They can easily aspirate so dont force anything into their mouth.

I would also try to take the chick out out and put it in the brooder if it does perk up (but keep an eye on the other chick to make sure it isn’t being bullied.)

She actually has gotten it off so I just left it off. I guess I’ll deal with it tomorrow. She’s a feisty little thing. Of course it might be a roo I thought I had to do it within 24 hours of her being born that’s why I did it today. Thank you so much for all of your help. I really really appreciate it.

 

[Slothinc]

She actually has gotten it off so I just left it off. I guess I’ll deal with it tomorrow. She’s a feisty little thing. Of course it might be a roo I thought I had to do it within 24 hours of her being born that’s why I did it today. Thank you so much for all of your help. I really really appreciate it.

If she continues to be feisty, I would put her in the brooder this evening, and keep an eye to make sure the other chick isnt picking on her. Then I would put a brace on either tonight or first thing in the morning. And I would try to shoot for 1 inch or less between the legs.

 

[Serenity2007]

If she continues to be feisty, I would put her in the brooder this evening, and keep an eye to make sure the other chick isnt picking on her. Then I would put a brace on either tonight or first thing in the morning. And I would try to shoot for 1 inch or less between

If she continues to be feisty, I would put her in the brooder this evening, and keep an eye to make sure the other chick isnt picking on her. Then I would put a brace on either tonight or first thing in the morning. And I would try to shoot for 1 inch or less between the legs.

ok. Her belly is so extended she can’t stand up, she just toppled backwards with the brace on. I’ll try to get it closer together. She’s sleeping now. I hate to do anything else to her tonight. It’s after midnight now. It’s my son’s Hovabator 1583. Not easy to use at all! Can’t regulate it very good. I’m trying to get the temperature to 95 but it’s not working. Her sister will hurt her if I put her in the brooder. I’m at my wits end. I’ve not slept hardly at all for 3 days. Thank you so much for taking the time to try to help me.

 

[Serenity2007]

If she continues to be feisty, I would put her in the brooder this evening, and keep an eye to make sure the other chick isnt picking on her. Then I would put a brace on either tonight or first thing in the morning. And I would try to shoot for 1 inch or less between the legs.

Ok brace is back on. It’s the best I can do with what I have. This is edited because it fell off again, so I had to put duct tape on it to hold it together. I have a chiropractor appointment first thing in the morning and I’ll get some better supplies and just pray she makes it through the night. I can’t seem to regulate the humidity or the temperature for any length of time. I just don’t know what else to do. I’ve never done this before so I don’t know whats too low for the humidity or what’s acceptable for the temperature.