Hen hatched chicks covered in pine pitch

[hummingbirdoaks]

I heard peeping in the woods, my favorite BCM chicken who I thought was lost has hatched 3 chicks under a pine tree. All of them are covererd in pitch. One chick was already dead. They can't be more than a day old. I brought them inside and used olive oil to try and remove the pitch as best I could. I then bathed all of them in dawn to try and get the pitch off. I had my incubator for the chicks to keep warm in. I have now got them in a dog crate (medium size) in the back room under heat lamp. She has happily taken her babies back. Everyone is making a lot of noise. What else can I do?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Vegetable oil will remove the pitch, then bahe in Dawn dish soap. Chickens, good grief! Good luck.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry I see you've already tried this. It will take a lot of gentle rubbing with your fingers (with the oil) to get the pitch out of the feathers/ down. Do this under the heat lamp if possible so they don't chill.

 

[hummingbirdoaks]

I'm sorry I see you've already tried this. It will take a lot of gentle rubbing with your fingers (with the oil) to get the pitch out of the feathers/ down. Do this under the heat lamp if possible so they don't chill.

Thank you, I am still concerned. I easily cleaned up the chicks but the hen is still a mess. I decided to give her a break and put her back with her chicks under the heat lamp. I was thinking I would see how she is in the morning and I may need to try cleaning her off again. The chicks are very loud thats my big concern right now should I put them in the incubator?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The chicks are very loud thats my big concern right now should I put them in the incubator?

I think they need to be with mama... unless there is danger of them gettig pitch off of her. Let's ask our resident Educators what they think.
@Eggcessive
@coach723
@azygous
@Ridgerunner

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If they are screaming they are either cold, hot, hungry or thirsty. How are you providing heat to them and are they in a brooder? Do you have a brooder? Can we get a picture? Or is the incubator your only way of warming them?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, I see you say you have a heat lamp. Can they move out from under it to a cooler area if they are too hot?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you, I am still concerned. I easily cleaned up the chicks but the hen is still a mess. I decided to give her a break and put her back with her chicks under the heat lamp. I was thinking I would see how she is in the morning and I may need to try cleaning her off again. The chicks are very loud thats my big concern right now should I put them in the incubator?

Can you post photos of how you are keeping her and the chicks?

If the chicks are with Mama hen, a heat lamp isn't necessary.
If they are chirping loudly, go check on them, see if they are too hot, if they are not able to get to food/water, etc..

Is Mama distressed?