Possibly Mushy Chick? Or something else?

[Kerocaro]

First time quail hatching, and the past 4 days have been a very brutal crash course in quail chicks and all the things the basic tutorials missed.
I could use some guidance, reassurance and a reminder these feathered terrors are worth it.

On to the issue....

TW: sick chick/ quail butt/poop
To preference this all;
So far I have lost 2 of my original 7. Both required hatch assistance so the odds didn't hold in their favor. Lessons learned.

The issue is #5 now. First off it is smaller then the other 4. It came in to the world dragging its shell, I did cut it once I moved it to the brooder. I did checked it was dry and no veins.( I worry now that pulling in the incubator may have opened an injury. )

Yesterday I thought it had pasty butt, so did a general butt wash. However in a lack of quail bum anatomy knowledge may have pulled at its navel, thinking it was stuck on poop. I did apply lanolin and coconut oil to the area once I was done.

(Google and I had a long lesson on quail butts and more ways quail can meet their demise.)

Today I followed up with better knowledge on what a quail butt looks like and found 5's belly being crusty and still some pasty butt. I also notice a foul yellow discharge as I gently washed the whole belly with a q-tip. Applied Bacitracin ointment ( I am aware I can't use any with pain medicine). It also got moved to the hospital brooder( aka a smaller clear box in the main brooder box it has a shop towel floor food water and a paper towel imposter for company ) until I confirm what is going on.

It has also been refusing to lay down at all, even with being held. Seems to remember to eat and drink. It did poop when I cleaned it. It has been picking at his butt, I chalked it up to the poop and weird oils I had applied. The energy level was low when it was in the main brooder.

So TL;Dr , is this mushy chick( infected yolk) And should I hold out for recovery or not?

( Pictures in the morning small baby hit its handling limit.)

 

[Nabiki]

I would see if it recovers. It sounds like it has energy, so it still has a chance. If it is smaller than the others, it is possible that something is wrong internally, and it will fail to thrive, but that's not guaranteed.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Mushy chick disease is a completely different animal, you’ve got an umbilical hernia plus or minus some other developmental issues. Prognosis is poor no matter what you do. I had a completely healthy one I fixed surgically, he did great for 3 days but then just died, probably internal gut associated deformities. High rates of chick deformities and late embryonic death are common in cold exposed eggs, shipped eggs, turning issues, etc. I just hatched 6 cold exposed eggs, 33% each failure to hatch, deformed, and normal. I’m hatching another group now but waited until temps were in the 40s to collect eggs and so far it is night and day to the last hatch! Don’t give up, these guys are fun, but winter hatching can devastate a hatch, you can still do it just be mentally prepared for wonky chicks and bad hatch rates. I’ve never saved a normal chick with assisted hatching, I have a couple wry necks that made it only to be culled weeks later, there’s a reason they don’t hatch. Remember to enjoy your healthy ones too!

 

[Kerocaro]

I would see if it recovers. It sounds like it has energy, so it still has a chance. If it is smaller than the others, it is possible that something is wrong internally, and it will fail to thrive, but that's not guaranteed.

I am hopeful, it had an absolute fit I put it in the hospital box, ignored the food and water. Zooming back and forth yelling like a car alarm. It was starting to stress the others out and I ended up putting it back with the rest.
It made a bee line for the food, and started eating. Will reevaluate this afternoon when I clean out the brooder.

 

[Kerocaro]

Mushy chick disease is a completely different animal, you’ve got an umbilical hernia plus or minus some other developmental issues. Prognosis is poor no matter what you do. I had a completely healthy one I fixed surgically, he did great for 3 days but then just died, probably internal gut associated deformities. High rates of chick deformities and late embryonic death are common in cold exposed eggs, shipped eggs, turning issues, etc. I just hatched 6 cold exposed eggs, 33% each failure to hatch, deformed, and normal. I’m hatching another group now but waited until temps were in the 40s to collect eggs and so far it is night and day to the last hatch! Don’t give up, these guys are fun, but winter hatching can devastate a hatch, you can still do it just be mentally prepared for wonky chicks and bad hatch rates. I’ve never saved a normal chick with assisted hatching, I have a couple wry necks that made it only to be culled weeks later, there’s a reason they don’t hatch. Remember to enjoy your healthy ones too!

Honestly as a first time I have been thrilled I got any. More so as the incubator I am using is old enough to drink

The eggs were collected in a warm spell of our 70 to 20 weather swings. And only had a 10 minute car ride as my husband's coworker lives near by with a flock.

After these guys I probably will wait until I have a newer incubator, may also try some eggs from another local hatchery.

The healthy ones have been a joy. More so as my senior cat has been enamored with them. The mental enrichment they have given her is worth all the struggle.