I Helped My First Two Chicks Hatch--Big Mistake! Help!

[Queengoddess]

Ok, so, this is my first hatch. I had 6 Silkie eggs and 6 bantam Cochin eggs in my Little Giant. Today was day 19, and first thing this morning I had two Cochin eggs peeping and pipping. I was so stoked! But I tried t busy myself and just check in on their progress every hour or so.

However, by 5pm, both chicks had ad their beaks out or since 11am, but no other progress ad been made. So.....against my better judgment and every single thing I've read to the contrary, I decided to help them out of their shells.

There wasn't much blood, which s probably why I proceeded, but both chicks now have bloody-ish and very slightly protruding navels. They are lethargic and breathing is labored. I feel absolutely terrible. Ave I killed them? Are they doomed?

None of the other eggs have had any movement at all.

 

[mnferalkitty]

are they in the incubator or did you put them in a brooder? Chicks don't all hatch at the same time. and once they pip they sometimes rest often and won't complete the hatch for 24hrs or longer, they are usually absorbing the thier yolk, leave the others alone. And don't keep opening the incubator.

 

[krm6600]

Oh no! I'm sorry about the little chicks! Well i don't think they are doomed they might not be very strong but try to get them to eat and drink. Also give them lots of love no matter what! Try to let the other ones hatch on their own, i know it's really hard (i actually have one hatching right now!) but nature usually does its job pretty well

 

[kizanne]

Don't try to get them to eat or drink. Just hatched chicks have enough for 3 days which is how they can be shipped. They need to rest. A chick doesn't have much blood so if there was any blood that doesn't bode well but they could still make it. As you know it is very difficult to do but you need to just observe for a day, let them rest and leave them in the bator.

 

[Queengoddess]

THanks everyone for the good advice.

All the chicks have hatched. Those first two on Saturday and the rest on Sunday. I did as instructed and LEFT THEM ALONE. Sure enough, by Sunday afternoon, the first two that I thought I had inadvertently murdered were running around like crazy and acting like the healthiest chicks you ever saw.

Ironically, three of the chicks that hatched naturally didn't do as well. One died within an hour of birth (no idea why; there were no deformities, etc.) and the other two don't seem to be able to walk. It isn't spraddle leg, it's just more like their legs won't work right. So they just kind of drag themselves around with their wings and very minimal help from their legs. In this (sad) way, they are able to make it to the food and water bowl and are thus surviving (so far). But I don't think they can possibly live the way they currently are unless something changes.

Any idea about what the problem could be? As or all the other chicks, they're perfectly fine! Phew!

 

[Coreyboy18]

I'm not sure what that could be, and hopefully they get it together and learn to walk. Glad you had a good hatch and keep us updated!