HELP

[Animalfreak382]

Ok so I have a broody hen, so this morning i went to check on her eggs. I found a chick, that is breathing, but is still covered in a sac. I cannot find the shell, and there seems to be some kind of material ( looks like scrambled eggs) on the bum. I noticed there is also blood. Will the chick die? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!

 

[trailrider330]

I believe the material on the bum is what is left of the yolk sac. Usually that is absorbed into the chick at hatch and they are able to live off that for about three days. Sorry I am not sure what is typically done for this situation or what the chicks chances of survival are. If I find out, I will let you know.

 

[trailrider330]

Check this out:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=463890&p=1

Hope it helps.

 

[Animalfreak382]

Thanks! I yolk is dried, sadly so is the rest of "shell" around the chicks wings. Do I try to take to dried stuff of the chick?

 

[trailrider330]

Maybe try moistening it with a paper towel, or lightly mist with water, and see if it comes of on its own first? I know they typically say it isn't good to help a chick out of the shell. If after a few more hours that does not do anything, then you might want to consider assisting.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

It sounds as though the chicken is still in the inner membrane and the yolk sac has been ruptured. Ruptured yolk sac has a high instance of death, especially if it was a large amount of yolk that was left unabsorbed. Are the chicks at hatch day? My first thought would be it sounds like there's an egg eater and that's why the shell is gone. Is there still alot of veining in the membranes that surround the chick? If the vascular system between egg and chick is still prevelant there's not a whole lot that can be done, that I know of, other than keeping the membrane moist and the chick warm and waiting for the veins to shut down. The biggest worry would be causeing the chick to bleed out at this point.

 

[Animalfreak382]

The chick had a couple veins. And actually hatched 3 days late. I went to check on the chick and the membrane was gone. My worry is that I saw that a little bit was still attached to the chick. The good news is that I checked on the chick a couple hours later and ITS STILL ALIVE! But the chick cannot stand up ..............yet?

 

[Animalfreak382]

Good news! I went to check on the chick this morning, and she/he can stand (not like a normal chick though)! One question. When will she learn to eat or drink? Because when the chick was out from under the mom, my hen started eating, but then the chick crawled under the hen. And she stopped eating.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Good news! I went to check on the chick this morning, and she/he can stand (not like a normal chick though)! One question. When will she learn to eat or drink? Because when the chick was out from under the mom, my hen started eating, but then the chick crawled under the hen. And she stopped eating.

If you have starter crumbles accessible and water, I wouldn't worry too much, momma should coach it into eating and drinking. Does it have curled toes or spraddle leg?

 

[Animalfreak382]

I don't think she has curled toes. She walks like a person walking on knees. She does not stand up, just moves her whole leg. Is that spraddle leg?