Help Quick Please !!

[cattbird]

Me again

I was right and my whole hatch of 4 miniature Silkies had died.. except for one. Day 22 and no pipping, chirping etc. So I candled them all and saw tiny movement in one.

I opened with tweezers from the fat end and found my first dead chick.. then the second and third. Each was curled up tightly, head and beak up the small end - as far away from the air sack as possible

Their white membranes werent really dried out of too tough and no blood.

The egg with movement had the same treatment. As soon as I broke the shell I heard a faint cheeping. I pulled most of the shell and membrane off. Chick really started cheeping loudly then. I have stuck him back in the bator. But is there anything I can do to help him?

Should I be leaving him in the egg and in the position he is in or getting him out completely and 'unravelling' him slightly? I have read you should dip beak in water??

He has just been laying there for the past hour. Is there any hope for him?

Is he even going to be okay on his own? Over here in England you cant just pop down the road and buy a chick.. hence why I hatched!

 

[marymac]

Oh ny!!! I'm having issues with my chicks not hatching either!!! They were supposed to hatch this past Wed. Mine are still moving, but I'm not sure what to do. Wait or help them out. I hope we get some answers soon.

 

[mulia24]

ew, I want to help but I have no experience about this since my eggs always hatch by my hen and this is the first time I incubate eggs cause my hen got herself in trouble.

 

[Julie08]

There is a lot of blood, just leave it alone.

 

[FenDruadin]

I wish I could help. It may be okay, and it may not... It looks all right. I wonder why they were all in the wrong end? Were they sitting in the incubator with the wide end down?

I think you've done the right thing so far. Now the best you can do is leave it in the incubator and hope it recovers. A little water in a straw or on a clean (never used with paint) paintbrush can be dripped through the opening in the incubator and onto the chick's beak--if he's thirsty, the water will help him. If not, no harm done.

Please keep us updated. I think you're doing all the right things right now.

 

[cattbird]

They were placed fat end up. The only thing I can think of is that the humidity in days 5-15 was too low (dodge hygrometer)

From the pic there looks like alot of blood, but it was only on the membrane.. no drops or anything.

I will drip a bit of water in to his mouth now.

Can anyone tell me how long it takes a newly hatched chick to be less lethargic, move around? As i'm a first time hatcher I'm not sure if this is normal or not?

xx

 

[FenDruadin]

If he wasn't quite ready to come out, it will take longer for him to perk up--he's got to absorb the rest of the yolk. It's very common for a chick to rest in the eggshell for several hours before finally pushing all the way out. You were right to leave him partially in the shell.

I have no experience with chickens (I have ducks), but usually my ducks are pretty active after a few minutes. However, that doesn't mean he won't be all right. He's had a traumatic hatching, and it may take him a while to get active.

I know that's not very helpful--you must be very worried, and waiting is the hardest part. But I really think that's all you can do right now. He might be okay, he might not... it's just impossible to tell right now. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for him!

 

[cattbird]

Here he is mid-hatch!

His wing hair is stuck to his head which I think may be hingering his activness!

Thanks for the advise and reassurance.

 

[FenDruadin]

He's talking really well! Sounds pretty good.

If he's stuck together somehow, try moistening the stuck part. He may have dried out too much and be having trouble getting loose. Is he active, just not hopping about yet? Or is he pretty passive/quiet?