Okay, this is kind of a long story. I lost my blue orpington to old age about a month ago (she hatched in 2012, came from my pet chicken hatchery). I loved her dearly. She moved with me when I returned to university to finish my degree, and was the sole survivor of multiple assaults by a terrible neighbor dog. She is the reason I got more chickens after that dog was gone. I couldn't let her be alone, and I couldn't part with her. Before she died, she laid two eggs.
One of them hatched on the 16th (a day early). It's been doing good so far, but I have yet to see it have a full crop, and it keeps doing this gasping thing (I took a video, but can't figure out how to upload it). I have never hatched chicks before. This is my very first one. The chick is fluffy and happy, growing adult feathers on it's wings, and doesn't seem distressed, so maybe I am just being over-cautious, but can someone tell me it's okay, or tell me what I need to do to help this baby? I really want this chick to make it.
One of them hatched on the 16th (a day early). It's been doing good so far, but I have yet to see it have a full crop, and it keeps doing this gasping thing (I took a video, but can't figure out how to upload it). I have never hatched chicks before. This is my very first one. The chick is fluffy and happy, growing adult feathers on it's wings, and doesn't seem distressed, so maybe I am just being over-cautious, but can someone tell me it's okay, or tell me what I need to do to help this baby? I really want this chick to make it.
