Help!!! Should I assist this chick?

[casportpony]

IMO, it's time to remove the shell.
@Pyxis and @WVduckchick, what would you do? That green stuff looks like its first poop.

 

[KN650605]

I just checked her and the membrane is completely dry and stuck around her...what should I do?

 

[Pyxis]

I think so too, he's sticking his leg out now and that seems like he's ready to be out. I would carefully lift him from the shell. If there is unabsorbed yolk, you can put him back in and prop him up in a cup lined with paper towels until he is done absorbing, but I think he's good to go.

 

[KN650605]

So I removed the shell and now the chick looks like the picture below. I feel like the yolk sac got infected. I’ve been spreading Vaseline on her feathers and I’m keeping her in the incubator. Poor thing. She’s definitely moving around and peeping and she kept trying to grasp my fingers with her feet. She’s kicking a lot but I’m really worried.

 

[casportpony]

Very carefully remove the goo, shell, and membrane.

 

[KN650605]

I just removed most of the membrane from the chick but there is a very thick layer of green/white crust on its butt. I didn’t want to pull or hurt it so I decided to give it a rest for an hour or two. What is this? I feel like everything I read said it’s an infection. I gave it a drink of water, which it happily took and out it back in the incubator to rest. What should I do next?

 

[casportpony]

I would clean the rest of the poop and goo off.

 

[KN650605]

I am SO excited. Took off most of the dried up membrane, gave her a few hair dryer sessions (which she loved), and removed all the poop (her vent looks clean and healthy). She is now able to stand on her own! I set her back in the incubator and she’s walking around...one of her feet has her toes curled under (it’s the foot that was not outstretched so she’s probably not used to using it). I’m trying to not get my hopes up but things look really good for her. Regardless of the outcome, thank you all so much for the advice. I have been so anxious and stressed regarding this baby and knowing there was a supportive community made a world of difference! Will keep you updated!

 

[casportpony]

I am SO excited. Took off most of the dried up membrane, gave her a few hair dryer sessions (which she loved), and removed all the poop (her vent looks clean and healthy). She is now able to stand on her own! I set her back in the incubator and she’s walking around...one of her feet has her toes curled under (it’s the foot that was not outstretched so she’s probably not used to using it). I’m trying to not get my hopes up but things look really good for her. Regardless of the outcome, thank you all so much for the advice. I have been so anxious and stressed regarding this baby and knowing there was a supportive community made a world of difference! Will keep you updated!

That is great news, thanks for the update! She looks so much better!

 

[KateGoad]

We assisted one today. Membrane was dry and opaque. She'd been zipped all day. We took her from a brooding hen, because we think she killed the first one to hatch (now she's moping). I'm not holding out hope, because she's not wobbling around drunkenly like they usually do, but I just couldn't let her suffer in there.

OTOH, her sister from the same clutch came out on her own and isn't much more spry. One more left pipped and starting to zip.

Black Australorp X EE. Maybe RIR X EE. They're still a bit wet so it's hard to tell. Hoping BA, because their big sister BA X EE is gorgeous.