HELP! Red 'bubble' on newly hatched chick's bottom on/around vent

[Spike297690]

Help! I am a first time chick hatcher. I had a great hatch with day 21 falling on 06/21. Most chicks were out, fluffy and happy by the 21st. I had a few more hatch about 24 hours ago, and one more about an hour ago. It was born with a red bubble on/near its vent. It is very lethargic & twitching legs. Is there anything I can do to help it?

 

[AltonaAcres]

She's still absorbing her yolk. As soon as possible, put her in a small plastic cup with a towel on the bottom. Put her back in the incubator in the cup. She won't be able to move around and thus won't burst her sack.

 

[Spike297690]

She's still absorbing her yolk. As soon as possible, put her in a small plastic cup with a towel on the bottom. Put her back in the incubator in the cup. She won't be able to move around and thus won't burst her sack.

OH THANK YOU! I'm doing that right now.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Sure! Is she still twitching? Can she keep herself upright? Is she somewhat active?

 

[Spike297690]

She's still absorbing her yolk. As soon as possible, put her in a small plastic cup with a towel on the bottom. Put her back in the incubator in the cup. She won't be able to move around and thus won't burst her sack.

Hi again. She will not stay in her cup (which is almost reaching the top of the incubator). I tried plastic and glass and she is knocking both over. She is feisty! Any other thoughts? Thank you in advance

 

[AltonaAcres]

What about a mug? It'd most likely be ceramic and heavy so she couldn't knock it over. I would just make sure it didn't get hot to the touch. Has her yolk absorbed any more? Just be sure there isn't ANYTHING that could puncture her yolk. Maybe line the incubator with a soft towel if there aren't any more eggs left to hatch.

 

[Spike297690]

What about a mug? It'd most likely be ceramic and heavy so she couldn't knock it over. I would just make sure it didn't get hot to the touch. Has her yolk absorbed any more? Just be sure there isn't ANYTHING that could puncture her yolk. Maybe line the incubator with a soft towel if there aren't any more eggs left to hatch.

Great idea! We have a few eggs left...but we are going on day 24 now so I am not quite sure what else will hatch. She is safe, alone in the incubator, with a cloth towel down. It does look like her sac went down a little bit. She cannot stand upright, even on her breast, and is still twitching. She hatched today around noon.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Is she attempting to move? Was her hatch a difficult one? Was she malpositioned? Did you have to help her hatch? My guess is: she hatched too early for some reason. That's why #1 her yolk sak isn't done absorbing and #2 she's twitching (baby birds about to hatch have a large muscle in their neck start twitching to pip through the shell)

 

[Spike297690]

That is very possible. We got the eggs from our neighbor so I am not sure when they were laid. He said about three days...but who knows! We had a very spread out hatch. #1st chick hatch on Day 18, about 5 hatched three days later, 4 more the next day, then three days after that we hatched another 3 then this one came about 24 hours after.

 

[AltonaAcres]

OH MY WORD. You're kidding me! I am in the middle of a very spread out hatch and could use some encouragement! I have a very lonely baby who hatched yesterday (barely day 20) and the other two haven't even pipped! I'm pulling my hair out trying to keep this little guy happy. It's depressing to see him all alone Any tips, tricks, or experience?