malformed chick

[greycat]

I had 2 eggs that were hatching today under a broody hen.
the first one did just fine on its own with no problems, but the second one seemed to be stuck and couldn't get any further along than just the initial pip in the shell.
I stepped in after a while to give a little help by loosening the shell a little bit and then allowing a good bit of time to see if it could make it from there. i didn't want to rush things in case it had not taken up the yolk sac completely. I finally had to just step in and remove the chick from the shell and noticed when i was removing the shell he was in an odd position.
the head was not in the usual position and the feet were not tucked normally and were a bit twisted. which explained the why the pip had not been in the usual place at the large end of the shell. This one piped mid way down toward the small end of the shell.

after getting the chick out and getting him uncurled i notice that the head is some what odd shaped (high on the right side and slanting to the left) behind the base of the head is a large puffed area in the back of the neck that appears purple -red in color and is soft fluid filled like. I am thinking , but not absolutely sure, that the brain has formed outside of the head. ( not exposed )

can this chick survive and thrive this way or should i just put it down now and spare it from a life of misery?

This is the first time i have ever come across an abnormality of this sort where the chick is still living at hatch.

 

[redmouse]

My theory on this is give it a little time, unless it's actually suffering. I've had some oddbods who turned into healthy happy chicks. I had one that had the back of her head pecked out (you could see the brain

) but with some superglue, tender loving care and time to heal on her own she made it just fine

it will soon let you know if it can't live a normal life. If there is skin and some feathers over the bump and it's 'sealed in' I'd just wait and see how it does. But that's just me, I'm a softie

 

[mstricer]

Probably due to being in the shell to long, I agree with redmouse give it a little while.

to both of you.

 

[greycat]

This morning I checked in on the chicks fully expecting to find one dead.
Much to my surprise both are alive and from a distant glance you can barely tell any difference between the chicks appearance since it has dried off and the down has fluffed up.

The head has changed to an almost normal shape over night

the chick is not as active as normal but maybe with a little more time it will gain some strength and start to get around more. It is going to have curved toes from being in an awkward twisted position in the egg , that may hinder it walking some in the beginning, but that is easy to overcome.

Time will tell