Hello, I just hatched my first ever chick yesterday at 1:00. I unfortunatly had to help it a little because my humidity was not ideal and the membrane was kind of stuck to it. At first he was all chirpy and jumping around but after a few hours he just laid there motionless but breathing at least. He has the odd spasm in which he jerks around a bit but does not really stand on his own that much. Is this normal because he isn't even 24 hrs old? If he continues like that when should I get worried and what can I do to help, if anything? Thanking in advance all people who reply
It's hard to say without seeing it, but they do tend to sleep a lot for the first 24 hours or so. Is it still in the incubator? Is it warm enough? What's the humidity level now? Was there any blood when you helped it out? For now, I'd say leave it in the incubator, until the others hatch.
Thanks for the reply Ranchhand. My homemade incubator was rather small so I waited for them to dry and put them in the brooder. The temp is about 95 and they are still sleeping. One had a small drink of water and went to sleep. I am praying for them to survive. They are suffering as I can tell....they look very peaceful. No blood when they came out and all yolk absorbed. I will keep checking on them regularly.
Jaguar how are the babies doing? The first few days after mine hatched I was a nervous wreck. They didn't seem strong, slept a lot, and I had a sneezer. 4 weeks old now, and I still check constantly, but everything is going well, lots of energy now. If they are eating and drinking after a couple of days, you are probably fine. they don't do much of either the first day or so, as they are still on the yolk. That's the way it was with mine anyway.
My first hatchlings are in the back room in a brooder right now. THey scared the fire out of me because they sleep soo weird. I walked buy and when I looked at them I knew they were dead.they were stretched out with thei lil wings out to the side and their heads straight out. When I bent down to check them they jumped a good twoo inchs straight up and went to peeping like mad. I guess they are just like all other babies and they need alot of sleep,
