Newly hatched chick with feathers 'glued' to it's body. Any suggestions???

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qchick

qchick

In the Brooder
6 Years
Mar 25, 2013
10
1
24
Alabama
This is my first time to incubate eggs(shipped). They were marans. I only had one survive with my assistance(stuck at pip and never zipped) and at least half of it's feathers are stuck to the body/head and other areas of the body once it was out and dry. Not the fluffy chick I had imagined.
I wouldn't have gotten this far, if not for this website keeping me up reading ALL night long about what to do. So, I thank everyone for the advice that had been posted so that a newcomer like myself (and my kids) could learn a great deal about this amazing process.
So, now I would like to ask some questions in hopes that we have a possible success story, even though we know this chick may not make it. I welcome any advice. Thank you.
What do I need to do to help fluff it up? Nothing? I really hate to give up on it now. It is also having trouble standing up and seems to lay on its side.
Advice???
 
Uh oh! I actually just had this same discussion the other day, unfortunately the other one did not live. For energy you could give him a teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt mixed in some water. I try to keep mine company and attempt to convince him of the will to live. I have had chicks like this live, and I have had chicks like this die. I have found that sometimes they are very responsive to a tapping sound, so tap away on the brooder and see if it responds. As far as the fluffiness goes, once the chick is hydrated it may fix itself. Good Luck!
 
Thank you for the reply. I have tried to wipe it off with moist q-tips and paper towels under the warm light. It is still having problems standing up. Could the hard dry feathers be preventing it from balance???
Some feathers puffed up after a qtip bath and others are still stuck together. Bathe again????
Again, thank u in advance for replies/advice....
 
sounds like he might have been 'shrink wrapped' from low humidity. You could try bathing him (warm room) in mild Johnson's baby shampoo, rinsing well. Towel dry as much as possible and finish with a hair dryer if you have one. Keep the temperature lower or farther away from him so it doesn't burn. Be certain that he is dry before putting back in the box. Polyvisol infant vitamin drops (NO IRON) can be given to him - maybe 2 drops , twice a day.

I don't see that affecting him from standing. He may just be weak from the ordeal of hatching. Have you shown him where water is by tapping a finger on the dish? Does he drink at all. Be sure the water dish is shallow put clean marbles or pebbles in it so assure he won't drown. Chicks can drown easily because they aren't able to pull themselves back out especially if unsteady on their feet.If you think he might eat something you could try a little unsweeted plain yoqurt on your finger . Maybe a finely mashed egg yolk mashed into the yoqurt might interest him.

Chicks can go up to 3 days without eating but, probably need water sooner than that. Good luck with him and
welcome-byc.gif
 
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OK. Great. Thank you for the welcome.
We have the marbles covered. I will try the drops and foods you have suggested. Right know I have to pick him up and hold him close to the water and he does drink. Not sure how much is adequate for his survival???? How often I should offer water and food if the chick is not able to get there. How many days before we Really let Mother Nature take its course and let him sink or swim(even though we hate not to intervene).

Yes, 'shrink wrap' was probably the issue. We peeled the shell and membranes very carefully off of the chick's body yesterday afternoon/evening after all the studying from BYC website. Wonderful that step-by-step instructions and videos were sooo clear.
Otherwise, I would have never attempted this. Now that our 'helping him out' is the reason he is alive, we are feeling very obligated to nurture him to a healthy state.

Any other advice...my children and I are soaking it all in......
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Ok. He is hobbling around and has actually made it to his water jar a few times and taken several sips at a time all on his own. Whew! We are noticing his feet are turned in/curled?? so I believe this is what is making it difficult for this chick to stay standing. Might he straighten these feet with strength and a bit more time or should I start looking for my tape and cardboard?
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not sure if I just deleted 2 posts???
Still getting use to this...sorry.
If someone posted, would you mind resending?
THANKS!
 

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