I have chicks hatching...ALREADY! Questions!

[laceyyates]

I put 9 buffs in the bator on the 10th at 1:00pm along with some cream legbars (the went in at 6 am same day). I already have 2 buffs that hatched!

They just hatched I would say an hour or two ago, still pretty wet. They really aren't standing, but look alert? Are they ok? Will they eventually be able to stand? One kind of flops around and then breaths heavily like he is tired....

I'm a NEWBIE!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Congratulations on your new chicks

Your chicks sound totally normal for post hatch. Hatching is very hard work so they can appear very tired after hatch. Once they have have had a good few hours rest in the incubator they should be up and about.

Good luck with the rest of your hatch

 

[n8ivetxn]

Yeah! Congratulations on the new chicks!

 

[FlyWheel]

Congratulations mommy!

 

[laceyyates]

Thank you everyone! I have had most hatch. Waiting on two, but concerned about one chick. I kept eggs in an egg carton and let them hatch that way. I had problems with one, my humidity got to about 60% by 5 am when I checked hatch. The little chick hatched but the membrane I think got a little dry? He was kind of hanging by his little naval area, still attached to egg. I helped him out. His naval is pretty red and swollen. It's been 6 hours and he still hasn't really found his "chick legs". Anyone with experience care to help me or give advice?

Also for the two eggs I'm waiting on: I candled them. There is movement in the cream legbar egg, and I can hear chirping so I'm letting him go a while longer. Nothing visible from the outside. The little buff egg, though, I didn't see any movement or hear anything...hoping he's not a quitter?

Thanks from an anxious newbie!

 

[n8ivetxn]

I would put some neosporin on the navel and, I don't know, but you might let him rest in a little cup or dish to keep him still til the swelling goes down some.... Maybe...

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I too agree a dab of something antiseptic on the navel and it should be fine, I personally like iodine.

Any action from your last two remaining eggs?

 

[n8ivetxn]

I too agree a dab of something antiseptic on the navel and it should be fine, I personally like iodine.

Oh, I forgot about iodine - I use a dip-cup on my newborn lambs, especially when it's wet and nasty weather...Iodine will, most likely, help dry it out and draw it down faster than neosporin.

 

[laceyyates]

UPDATE: I gave the little problem chick a bath. I think he couldn't stand up because of his wing plastered to his body. He is now doing much better. Pretty delayed, but is able to stand and not fall backwards now - huge improvement. I will use the neosporin on his naval!

On remaining eggs: One was a confirmed quitter. The other cream legbar I assisted hatch. Chirping from inside of egg became non existent and movement was little. He is alive and warming in the incubator. I might have waited too long to assist. But I believe he was just too big to hatch himself.

 

[Jenna14Chicken]

Good Job new mommy! I've never hatch before but it sounds like you did good
Good Luck and keep us updated, I would love to see pics