"Helped hatch" chick - need advise

[Yard full o' rocks]

Well, after nearly 36 hours I "helped" one of my Speckled Sussex chicks hatch. The membrane had dried and it was stuck tight. After some warm H2O and a little help from tweasers, we got him out. He is still very weak, can stand up yet, just rolls around. He is CHEEPING loadly (and a lot) after 2 days. We have given him Pedialite (which seemed to perk him up a bit). However, he has some hard dried areas on his back....not sure what that is or how to correct it. Could that be the reason he can't stand? He is trying so hard to make it, sure hate to cull him before I've done everything I can. Any advise? THANKS

 

[Winsor Woods]

I'm really new with chickens and don't have any personal experience with this topic. That said, be prepared for answers you don't want to hear. Everything I've read on the issue says that the best thing to do in NOT to help them hatch. If they die, they die and it's a natural culling. Hatching is the first big hurdle for a chick and if they need help with that, they'll need help with so much more down the road.

I understand that the emotional side to watching a little guy struggle and fight for life is wrenching. I'm not faulting you or questioning your decision to help the chick hatch, I'm just giving you a heads up that you might not like some of the answers you're going to get.

Dan

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
Many do live! And yes some die~ It's OK to intervien in emergencies but some people just help because they are impatient, that's a No No

 

[lockedhearts]

Scott,
The dried stuff will go away after a few days. Pedialite helps and also if you have Poly-Vi-Sol vitamins without Iron give one drop a day for a few days. He is just weak from trying so long to get out. He also will likely not fluff correctly, but after a few days he will be fluffed like normal.

 

[LilBizzy]

The OP isn't asking for comments on helping the chick hatch- That is done. No comment in the world will change that. He's asking advice on what to do now.
That being said- I, too helped a chick or 2( or 3) out of the shell who had been stuck. One was very gunky, with pieces of shell and stuff stuck to it's back and head. The gunkies did not make it unable to walk, but the long labor, and having been stuck in the shell for so long did make it a tiny bit weaker for the first 24-48 hours.
I gave my little gunky one a bath. I had warm water, and a towel that was heating up under the heatlamp. I gently wiped most of the gunk off with water only. Then wrapped it in the warmed up towel, and let it rest under the lamp.
You could try to get the hard stuff off his back. Maybe put a stuffed animal or featherduster in the brooder for extra company. Also make sure he can get to food and water. If he is weak to walk, he might not be eating and drinking. Liquid baby vitamins (WITHOUT Iron) could also help.

 

[speckledhen]

Time will take care of it or it won't, Scott. Like Karen suggested, you could certainly give Poly Vi Sol, but sometimes, it just takes a long time for one to "find it's sea legs".

 

[Winsor Woods]

Quote:
LilBizzy,
Please reread my original post:

Quote:
I've read some pretty disparaging remarks about people helping chicks to hatch out. Some were warranted and some not. I just wanted to forewarn him that this can be a divided topic. That's all. I'm not naive enough to think that any post I make will change the past. I find it alarming that you inferred that from my post.

Dan

 

[clarkestep]

Hello, OP! I'm from Cartersville, too... the west side...
I'd do what the others have suggested about the vitamins. Is the baby drinking and eating on it's own? You may have to dip its beak in the water to teach it. It's been a few hours since you posted, how is she doing now?

 

[chickencoop31320]

I too have "helped" a few chicks out... Sometimes it's for the best and sometimes it's not.
Vitamins are good, a warm bath in plain water followed by a good rubbing and keeping warm until dry will help with the fluff, returning them to the empty pre-heated incubator to keep warm after the bath and rub down is easiest.

If things don't improve in the next couple days... I hate to say it, but... culling might be what's best for the lil one.

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
LilBizzy,
Please reread my original post:

Quote:
I've read some pretty disparaging remarks about people helping chicks to hatch out. Some were warranted and some not. I just wanted to forewarn him that this can be a divided topic. That's all. I'm not naive enough to think that any post I make will change the past. I find it alarming that you inferred that from my post.

Dan

I'd say the point is that chicks who have been helped to hatch are more likely to have problems down the road, perhaps even more likely not to make it to adulthood. This is useful information. If someone chooses to help, knowing this, that is certainly their choice. I do think it's valuable to share useful information. Obviously it is not valuable or even justifiable to judge the decision. Not saying anyone did or did not judge. And, not saying that a chick who was helped to hatch could not live 10 great years and be a valuable bird or a great pet or whatever. Just saying....