Help with newly hatched chicks

[Lucindahart]

Sorry I am new to this hatching business and need a bit of hand holding! As all i seem to do is ask advise!

I have a couple of chicks that when they hatched yesterday evening - still had a bit fo the membrane attatched to their feathers - its still there today - but has gone 'crunchy' under their heat lamp - does anyone know the best way for me to remove it?

Also a third chick hatched - who yesterday has a round ball attatched to his bottom - this has now burst - but is still dragging behind him - i don't know what to do for him, I have him in a small box sepearte from the other chicks as he is sickly - but i don't want to give up on him if there is anything i can do for him - does anyone have any ideas?

On the upside here are another 16 really healthy babies!

Thanks in advance

 

[jenjscott]

As for the one with the round ball, he probably won't go far, feed and water and sometimes if not too severe they can recover. For the other two, I get a bowl of very warm water and a cotton ball and dip the cotton ball and soak the dry spots. They very quickly rehydrate and you can peel them off. If very extensive, you can even soak the whole chick in warm water, swish gently being careful not to drown

, and the areas will rehydrate and can be kind of "rolled" off with your fingers or a cloth or cotton ball. Dry gently, do not wring. place back in incubator of under warm lamp. Lots of times they won't ever fluff up like the others, but by the time they get their second feathers, you can't tell the difference.

In this pic, the guy on the right, second from the bottom, had to have a bath, you can see he is not as fluffy as the one next to him, the same breed. Sometimes they look alot worse.

 

[Lucindahart]

Thank you - will try that now

 

[bargain]

You can also blow dry them after being gentle with cleaning!