Live chick in trouble - graphic pics - help!

[Barnyard]

Quote:
What she said

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

What a wonderful thread! You did such a great job caring for your little one. So very impressive

 

[aberfitch]

Quote:
awwww so sweet

 

[MoodyChicken]

Did he survive? I'm getting the impression that he did. Wow, that takes some serious skill and luck on your behalf and an intense will to survive on his! You need to get some food in him; if he didn't absorb the yolk, he has no "fuel" so to say. Mix sugar and whole milk and give him a good dose of that for the next week or so until he's on his feet.

I had a chick last year that didn't properly absorb his yolk. He absorbed it, but it was stuck under the skin and not in the body cavity. He survived about a week and then passed on. I think he had other issues though too.

Good luck, I'm cheering for him!

 

[m00res]

I'm so happy for your success! Great job, mommy! Oh, i'm really happy to have found a community of compassionate people. Keep up the great work, cheryln!

Ooooh...What r u going 2 name him/her?

 

[bikergirl]

Quote:
I think its so odd that people use incubaters and then say "let nature take it's course" HELLO incubaters are not natural!!!

 

[SussexInSeattle]

Hey neighbor, I don't think you can use that word here......

 

[BarkerChickens]

I have been following your thread and think you are doing an amazing job! I know some people believe culling is the best choice...I understand their view point, however, I agree with you. He is doing well, seems strong, eager to drink water, standing on his own...sounds like he wants to live to me.

Sounds like he's gonna be a sweetie too with how spoiled he is already!

 

[Cherlyn]

Well, I thought I could handle this with no problems, but after reading all the posts that were made during my night time, I am in tears.

The little one did not make it through the night.

Before heading to bed at eleven-thirty, I tried giving him more electrolyte water. Instead of eagerly gobbling it up like he has been, he merely allowed it to trickle into his mouth, and then he let it trickle right back out when he laid down again.

Now here is the part where I failed. It may take me a while to forgive myself... I relied on my teething 6-month old to wake me up. He always wakes up at least twice a night.

So imagine my horror when I woke up at 0630 this morning... having slept through the night. My six-month old woke up right after me, congested and sniffly.

My husband came in and told me that the little chick had passed sometime early in the morning. His stomach was swollen like a drum - I realized that he had not had any bowel movements whatsoever since he was born - maybe he got stopped up? The yolk was still attached, unchanged from last night. Overnight temps were right at 95, and he had a space in the box to go to if he got too warm, but he was unmoved from last night's spot.

So, there we have it. Not quite sure what to write at this point. I do ask that please, save your criticism if it is hostile in any way. This experience might prompt someone to point out everything I did wrong... I know what I did, and I could not feel much more terrible about it than I do now. Many lessons were gleaned from this experience, and I have gained a lot of knowledge for future hatchings - some of it listed below.

1) Do not intervene until the chick has had enough time to zip. I jumped the gun this time... I waited about 18 hours after pipping before I jumped in to help. I should have waited longer... up to 48 hours, even.
2) When intervention is necessary, go delicately and involve myself only as much as necessary - go little by little, taking many breaks, allowing the chick to take over in the hatching process.
3) Do not rely on a 6-month old to wake me up. Use an actual alarm clock.
4) Rely on information given by more experienced hatchers...

This is where I want to thank you all, for your support, wisdom, and heartfelt compassion. I learned so much from everyone, and it has made me so much more equipped to handle incubating, hatching, and emergency care. He would not have made it as far as he did without you all.

~Cherlyn

 

[BarkerChickens]

I am so sorry that you lost your chick! Don't beat yourself up. You did what you thought was right at the time. Not only did you learn from your experience, but many of us have as well on this forum. You did your best!