Help! Sick Chick with little string out belly button?

[Melymark]

Hello,

I am egg sitting an incubator for a friend and 6 chicks hatched! The last chick had a string attached from her to the shell and after many hours of drying, she was still attached and she was struggling to stand. I cut her loose (close to the egg) and this string still hangs out of her, 3 days later. She has been the weakest chick so far. Today, she has very laboured breathing and mostly sleeps. She will drink a little and peak, but not much. I am going to post a picture. I gave her a little sugar water this morning. I am worried she is not going to make it. Thank you for any help or recommendations.

 

[Melymark]

Also, you have no idea how much I have appreciated this forum and website over the past 3 days! I have read and learned so much! I still have so much to learn. Don’t want to lose this little chick

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

It looks like her umbilical cord, which means there was probably an issue in the incubation/development process. It should eventually dry up and fall off. Does the area look red/irritated/swollen? It's also possible that she has hidden deformities, in which case there isn't really anything you can do. Is she pooping okay, or does she have diarrhea? The days following a hatch is often the most vulnerable time for a chick, and sometimes you just get one that isn't strong enough to pull through.

 

[Melymark]

The area looks a little swollen but nothing in comparison to some of the photos I have seen online. She is clicking when she breathes. Mouth open, taking gasps. She keeps her eyes closed most of the time. I have been holding her for a few hours. She cries like crazy when I put her down and runs back to my hand. No interest in eating at all. I gave her a little sugar water. I called around to try to find Sav-a-chick, but no one carries it where I am (ottawa Canada)

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

It sounds like you are doing the right thing. Keep her warm, and dip her beak in water to make sure she's drinking (watch out for her nostrils though). It's probably an internal issue, where there isn't much you can do. Just keep her comfortable. Sorry!

 

[Melymark]

It sounds like you are doing the right thing. Keep her warm, and dip her beak in water to make sure she's drinking (watch out for her nostrils though). It's probably an internal issue, where there isn't much you can do. Just keep her comfortable. Sorry!

Thank you for your help! I also cooked her an egg, to give her egg white, but she won’t eat.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

I will say that you're always going to come across a few poorly chicks in your life. Often if then need help hatching, they have something wrong with them. I had too assist hatch two of my eggs, and both of them had exposed navels and several facial deformities. However, they both pulled through and are very happy babies (albeit a tad ugly lol). So it's really hit or miss. They can have hidden deformities, like I said, that you might not even notice. For example, I also own a very very sweet pullet. She has a completely misplaced heart that you can actually see beating through her chest. But she needed no help hatching, and only took longer, so I had no idea until she stopped growing. She had a very difficult time gaining strength, and still needs some TLC. So the fact that you ended up with so many healthy chicks in the first place is already a great accomplishment!

 

[Melymark]

Number 7 just hatched. So much for egg sitting! I am chick sitting and I want to keep them all! It's such a beautiful experience. Number 5 (Cinco) couldn't open his eyes for 3 days, and hence didn't eat or drink. What I read on these boards helped me save him. He is on day 5 now and doing much better! Eyes open and happy.

This little one seems to be fading. I am still holding her in my hands. She is getting weaker, it seems

 

[Startedwithahatch]

Number 7 just hatched. So much for egg sitting! I am chick sitting and I want to keep them all! It's such a beautiful experience. Number 5 (Cinco) couldn't open his eyes for 3 days, and hence didn't eat or drink. What I read on these boards helped me save him. He is on day 5 now and doing much better! Eyes open and happy.

This little one seems to be fading. I am still holding her in my hands. She is getting weaker, it seems

I am new to the hatching game to but was lucky enough to hatch out 6 healthy chicks, including one assisted. However, I was already super attached to them from the moment they hatched and I can’t imagine possibly loosing any. I wish you the best of luck with your little peeper