Need help with "shrink wrap" & late hatch chick

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newchickenfamily

newchickenfamily

Songster
11 Years
Apr 30, 2008
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SF Bay Area - Danville
OK, it's the hatching newbie again... I had 5 chicks hatch out this morning. I have one chick that has the "shrink wrap" stuff on it's back and a little on it's head. Otherwise it seems fine. Do I need to do anything for this?

Also, I have a bantam that pipped almost 24 hours ago, and it's still in the shell. It's zipped a little, but I'm thinking it may be shrink wrapped in there too??? Do I just let nature take it's course, or can I help it?

When can I take the little fluffer-butts out an into the brooder?

Thanks in advance...
 
Quote:
It sounds like your humidity was too low in the bator. THis caused the "shrink wrap" to dry out and stick to the chick. It sound like the pipped bantam is having the same problem.

I really hesitate to help a chick. I almost pulled the guts out of one I thought was hatched out when I lifted the lower half of the shell out of the bator and the chick came with it still attached. If it seems like the little one is not going to make it, I might help it zip and let it push out on its own. It may be too dry as well.

I get the feeling (Basicly I don't know but believe) that when the chick pushes out of the egg the zipping and pushing helps it absorb the remaining yoke into its abdomen and when you help, it leaves some of the yoke on the outside.

I leave my chicks in the bator for a day or two and only remove the eggshells when it gets crowded. They don't need food or water for a few days and by that time they can see, have their legs, and their fluff is all dry.
 
Thanks estpr13... I also hesitate to help. It's so hard to see the little egg struggle though. I can see it in there.
hit.gif


What about the chick that has already hatched but has some of the shrink wrap on it's back? Will that come off on it's own eventually or will it harm the chick?
 
What has your humidity been and where's it at right now? The chickie with gunk on it...I wouldn't worry about it too much just yet. It's brooder-mates will probably take care of it for him. As for the one that has pipped and is zipping...I'd try to make sure the humidty is right and see what it does on it's own. If you decide to "help"...make sure you read the sticky at the top of this page.

Good luck!
hugs.gif
 
Quote:
The humidity was about 83% and spiked during the other hatches. I had to leave for work (
barnie.gif
) and when I got home, the humidity had dropped to 70%. I've upped it back to about 80% in hopes that there is a chance for the little chickie. I'm NOT going to make any hasty decisions and will read the sticky on top of the page further before I do anything.

Thanks for everyone's words of wisdom and encouragement!!
hugs.gif
 
that is good news! I had one pip last night, looked a little dry, I opted to do nothing and woke up this morning to a dead in shell chick... sometimes you never know what is the right thing to do... mostly when I help, I kill them.
 

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