How long before intervention?

[Phelanite]

I have several eggs going to hatch at varying days. I had a chick peep through last week and it never made it out and I was leary to help because of what I read. Then 2 days ago I had another peep out and left it by itself for 24 hours with no progress so this time I helped out. Just like posted I took a tweezer and only took off a little at a time about 1/8th inch square and then moistend it with a dropper and waited a few hours then a little more ect. ect. Finally she made it through. Only now after she is 24 hours drying I am seeing that she has a smaller wing on 1 side and a closed foot and cannot walk or stand. I do not suspect that it will heal. Should I wait it out? Was this a result of me helping? Should I have waited longer to see if it would make it on it's own? I now have a new one that hatched this morning and it only took about 2 hours and it was out and is standing. Also as a side note will it be ok to introduce my new chicks with ones that are 1 week old or will the older one's beat up on them? I took the deformed chick out and set it in the box with the older chicks (1 week old) and they immediatly attacked the club foot. So it's back in the bator. This is my first attempt at hatching and have learned alot but I thnk it is just easier to get day olds and a lot lesss stress on the 12 year old daughter. she looks at them as pet's and can't handle the bad results. Comments please!

 

[9 Feathers Farm]

Every one is a little different when it comes to helping their eggs. Some people will help out within hours if there is no progress, others will wait a while. I like to wait at lease 24 hrs. Sometimes this has worked to my favor, other times I was too late. After a couple of hatches you kinda get a feeling about what is normal and what needs help.

As for the wing and the leg, that was not your fault. The bird did not develop correctly. If you would have waited longer the bird probly would not have made it (natures way of taking care of its own). Some people will say you did the right thing, some will say you did the wrong thing.

Putting your 1wk and day old should be fine, just watch carfully to make sure no fighting is going on. The may pick on the deformed one, just be careful.

 

[Phelanite]

So you think I should still keep the one that was not formed right? I just straightened it's foot out and put medical tape on the bottom and top of the foot to hold it in that position to hopefully get it to grow right. I am going to try putting it back it with the older ones now and see what happens.

 

[boxermom]

I had a bunch of hatching eggs that didn't ship well at all. Out of 18 eggs, I set 7. 6 had detached air cells. 1 pipped, so I left it. It died. Another pipped, but by this time the broody hen was tired of setting. I brought the pipping egg in and opened it a little. All it had to do was kick the bottom shell off. I put it back under the broody and took my kids to school. (Called ahead to say they were getting a biology lesson.

) when I got home, the broody had kicked it out. I picked it up, finished the hatch and stuck it in the oven. I stood at the oven opening and closing it all day with a digital thermometer. (This was now a $20.00 SLW) I was going to do everything I could to keep it alive. He/she (still don't know gender) didn't do very well at first. Just sat there. When I moved food to it, it ate. Same with water, but it wouldn't move to the food/water itself. I went to the feed store and bought 2 day old silkies. That's what it needed. Companionship and a little competition. They are inseperable even today and "he" is absolutely beautiful and doing well.

 

[mothersin2ition]

I just helped one out last night, it was going on 36+ hours from the time it pipped. I did the tweezer thing, removed about a dime-size portion of the egg, and opened up the membrane a little more where its beak was. By 3am, I woke up to LOUD peeping, and found he had finally hatched after the help. I dont think I did the wrong thing. But thats totally a personal opinion. I think you did the right thing, and taping his foot will hopefully help. Just keep an eye on him around the other birds, and make sure you can quickly intervene if they start ganging up on him.
Good luck