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?

 

[hummingbirdoaks]

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?

I think the heat was important for all of them because she had been washed and so there was no insulation for anyone. They are in a dog kennel and can get out of the heat but she is choosing to sit right under it. The chicks are calm now and sitting under mom. No one has fluffed particularly well so I fear I need to clean with dish soap again to try and get rid of the oil more.

 

[hummingbirdoaks]