I don’t know what to do!!!

[TPico]

You're very welcome! I've hatched over 500 silkie chicks this year alone, and it doesn't get less exciting, that's for sure.

I have to run for a bit, but let me know what happens. Good luck!

Thank you, I’m hoping for the best for this little one.

 

[SnackMeat]

I haven't had a late hatch like that but I have assisted before. Could be extra dense shell that's harder to break through.

Assumming you'd be able to cull if the bird is disabled enough not to have a good QOL, may as well help and the sooner the better.

Carefully chip away all of the egg up to where the chick is. Think of that line as the chicks "shoulders" and they need to push against the shell to engage the legs muscles and tendons.

I think, based on the one picture, you probably don't have veins anymore. You can coat it or must it with water and take another picture. Otherwise, have some cornstarch or similar on hand and lightly peel away with tweezer. Peel to the edge where it meets the egg.


Give the chick some chick starter. You can put a drop on your finger then their beak, or you can even (holding gently so it doesn't fall out of egg) dip it's beak in a little soda cap of chick starter water.

Play it a YouTube video of chicks chirping.


If it has energy and is moving around, leave it. If it is very weak, focus on the eggshell director above its head. Its foot should be above its head. Crack a small bit, say 1/4-1/2" down towards the narrow end of egg.

You can do more than that but at that point if it can't struggle to free itself, doing more is unlikely to help it survive. You can keep giving it chick starter liquid and playing chirping soundtracks but see if it just needs nutrients to keep fighting, or if it's going to die soon.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chick-vinegar-and-baking-soda-method.147192/

 

[TPico]

In

I haven't had a late hatch like that but I have assisted before. Could be extra dense shell that's harder to break through.

Assumming you'd be able to cull if the bird is disabled enough not to have a good QOL, may as well help and the sooner the better.

Carefully chip away all of the egg up to where the chick is. Think of that line as the chicks "shoulders" and they need to push against the shell to engage the legs muscles and tendons.

I think, based on the one picture, you probably don't have veins anymore. You can coat it or must it with water and take another picture. Otherwise, have some cornstarch or similar on hand and lightly peel away with tweezer. Peel to the edge where it meets the egg.


Give the chick some chick starter. You can put a drop on your finger then their beak, or you can even (holding gently so it doesn't fall out of egg) dip it's beak in a little soda cap of chick starter water.

Play it a YouTube video of chicks chirping.


If it has energy and is moving around, leave it. If it is very weak, focus on the eggshell director above its head. Its foot should be above its head. Crack a small bit, say 1/4-1/2" down towards the narrow end of egg.

You can do more than that but at that point if it can't struggle to free itself, doing more is unlikely to help it survive. You can keep giving it chick starter liquid and playing chirping soundtracks but see if it just needs nutrients to keep fighting, or if it's going to die soon.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chick-vinegar-and-baking-soda-method.147192/

Thank you for your advice and the link to the other page. As much as I hope it doesn’t come to that. I am very grateful to have a different humane option for the chick.

I have to look into some of the other things you mentioned and research them more before starting. But I will try and assist the chick tonight after the 24hour mark just in case.