Is there any hope for this chick? (premature, very weak with swollen abdomen)

[rheo]

I recently incubated a bunch of eggs.

There is one chick who was born premature who seemed the worse off but has been barely hanging in.

Doing our best to nurse it back to health but noticed yesterday that it was pasted over. So I quickly cleaned it up but am worried I was too late.

The chick is still barely with us but hoping someone here might have an idea of what we might do to save it.

Its abdomen is very swollen tight right now.. I've included a picture in case someone has an idea of how to treat this..

 

[rheo]

He died..

 

[Gracedby3]

I am so sorry!!! It is so hard to lose one. (((HUGS)))

 

[Farmer Viola]

I am so sorry!

it looks like
Omphalitis Also known as Mushy Chick Disease & Yolk Sack infection
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis
Omphalitis is a common cause of death in chicks during the first week of life and most common with artificially hatched chicks. It is a bacterial infection of the yolk sac. Various bacteria may be involved in yolk sack infection, E.coli, Staphylococci, Proteus, Clostridia, fecalis and Pseudomonas.

 

[rheo]

Yep. That's what it looks like alright. Thanks for the info. Possibly a result of bacteria that got onto the egg.

When I was collecting eggs I was having a hard time knowing what to do with dirty eggs.

Risk contamination in the incubator with chicken poo or wash them and risk waterborne bacteria getting into the egg.

What do others think?

 

[Farmer Viola]

personally I do not wash eggs that I incubate, even if they are dirty. I will try to scratch dirt or poo off with a fingernail but never water. I also try to select for the cleanest eggs, maybe leaving one out that's too dirty.

actually the only time I have incubated dirty eggs are from other breeders. my hen's eggs are always very clean. I use sand flooring in the coop itself since in Oregon our ground is wet and muddy most of the year. the run is also covered and dry, so the mud from free ranging might get wiped off there too.. I keep the nest bedding fresh with deep straw.

no one poops in the nest here.. but if that is happening, maybe someone is sleeping inside the nest and pooping in it at night?
I had that problem when I moved some 8wk old chicks into the coop.. I think the hens were kicking them off the roost. I made a 2nd roost at a higher level that the hens now favor. the adolescents go on the lower roost. I also put (lol) curtains over the nest boxes because I had an egg eating hen. it was to discourage sight of the laid eggs int he nest, and discourage eating them. anyway, it stopped the adolescents from sleeping on the nesting box lip edge and pooping in it because the curtains would touch their backs.