Premature Bantam chick emergency

[Rothy_058]

About 24 hrs ago one of our locked-down Bantam eggs showed an external pip....oddly the pip was more or less in the centre of the egg - not towards the 'blunt' end. After 24 hours progress was slowing to a standstill and signs of activity were rapidly dwindling. I've read a few articles on this subject and know there is a small window of opportunity where it's possible to save the chick by helping and after a few agonising hours....right or wrong....I decided to see if I could save the little one... So, the chick is now out and showing promising signs but has a large piece of eggshell stuck to it....

Looks a bit premature to me but it has plenty of fight in it....I'm now agonising whether to try and free it from the eggshell that's stuck to it or if I shouldn't worry about that for now. I'd also be most grateful for any other advice any of you may have. The chick is still in the incubator and I'm keeping the humidity around 70% and the temp at 37.5 degrees - see the pic.

 

[ashlierami]

About 24 hrs ago one of our locked-down Bantam eggs showed an external pip....oddly the pip was more or less in the centre of the egg - not towards the 'blunt' end. After 24 hours progress was slowing to a standstill and signs of activity were rapidly dwindling. I've read a few articles on this subject and know there is a small window of opportunity where it's possible to save the chick by helping and after a few agonising hours....right or wrong....I decided to see if I could save the little one... So, the chick is now out and showing promising signs but has a large piece of eggshell stuck to it....

Looks a bit premature to me but it has plenty of fight in it....I'm now agonising whether to try and free it from the eggshell that's stuck to it or if I shouldn't worry about that for now. I'd also be most grateful for any other advice any of you may have. The chick is still in the incubator and I'm keeping the humidity around 70% and the temp at 37.5 degrees - see the pic.View attachment 1932050

I would keep the chick in the bayor until he dries. Once he's fluffed up I'd worry about the shell. Right now it will stress him and could pull lose his skin. Right now he needs warmth most of all to determine if he can and will survive

 

[Rothy_058]

I would keep the chick in the bayor until he dries. Once he's fluffed up I'd worry about the shell. Right now it will stress him and could pull lose his skin. Right now he needs warmth most of all to determine if he can and will survive

Thanks for your response. About an hour or so ago we carefully cleaned the little one up and got rid of all the shell. He's now fluffed up again and is sleeping next to his sibling egg in the bator, awaiting his arrival.... I have the brooder ready with the 'iron chicken' (as I call it) warming the hab up but I won't introduce him into that until tomorrow at which time I'll make water and chick crumb available, too.

I do believe he's made it and will update this soon with some more pics.

 

[ashlierami]

Thanks for your response. About an hour or so ago we carefully cleaned the little one up and got rid of all the shell. He's now fluffed up again and is sleeping next to his sibling egg in the bator, awaiting his arrival.... I have the brooder ready with the 'iron chicken' (as I call it) warming the hab up but I won't introduce him into that until tomorrow at which time I'll make water and chick crumb available, too.

I do believe he's made it and will update this soon with some more pics.

That's fantastic the first 24 hours are the most critical. Usuallly in mine is they make it to the fluff stage and to day 2 then they usually are going to be perfectly fine.

 

[Rothy_058]

That's fantastic the first 24 hours are the most critical. Usuallly in mine is they make it to the fluff stage and to day 2 then they usually are going to be perfectly fine.

So, 24 hours on you wouldn't believe it's the same chick...images below show the chick all cleaned up early the following day, then a few hour later - all fluffed up and clean and then earlier this evening after the sibling chick had hatched, which is also doing really well. I believe they are Polish chamois bantams with frizzle gene. The arrival of the sibling has worked wonders and they have both even started eating powdered chick crumb and taking water as I'm writing this. I can tell you I'm well pleased.

 

[casportpony]

Looks great!