Should I open the incubator to get the injured chick?

[chickenlover54]

I just want to know everyones opinion. I have about 12 eggs due today and 3 are out, I have noticed this chick laying on its back and trying to stand. It hatched first and is completly dry and not weak. I think it may have a problem with its neck. I have my Sportsman outside in a building and the humidity is atleast 50% outside. Should I open the incubator and get this chick?

 

[2overeasy]

Read this post:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48726

She says "don't help!" If you open the bator, even very quickly you risk the remaining eggs. According to her advice, be patient. But someone else may say differently.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

No there is no up side to helping it. You may hurt others with that very dry air. What help can you really give it anyway?

 

[Threecritters]

Are other eggs pipped? If not, I say go in and get him. The very least would be to put the poor thing out of its miserery if there is a bad problem with it. If others are pipped...I would get it out anyway, just be very fast and take a spray bottle to give the bator a quick humidity boost. If you don't think you can do it without the humidity really dropping (I consider 10% or more drop to be too much), then leave him till the others are out.

 

[ReikiStar]

I don't know what others have experienced but opening the incubator for a second isn't going to crash your whole progress. If you're that worried about a drop in humidity, I would swap out the chick and put in a wet sponge to add any lost humidity.

Of course, I'm in the "I would help" camp. If the chick can be helped, why not. If it turns out it should be culled, the sooner the better.

Good luck!

 

[cmom]

I have a Sportsman and I have taken chicks out as they hatch. I do try to do it quickly and the incubator recovers quickly. I have had a mister and have misted the eggs for the humidity. Also I close the vents some until the humidity recovers. I do use a 5 gallon bucket for my water for my humidity. The humidity recovers quite quickly too.