Something's gone wrong with my broody, please help!

[gritsar]

Quote:
Thinner and dryer than that. More like a string the thickness of some embroidery thread with a flat, dry chunk - black and the size and thickness of a piece of pine shavings at the distal (away from the chicks body) end. There's some swelling around the chicks belly button.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

If it is dried, then I would snip it off, close to but not touching the chick's body. That way it is not getting snagged on anything.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
Thinner and dryer than that. More like a string the thickness of some embroidery thread with a flat, dry chunk - black and the size and thickness of a piece of pine shavings at the distal (away from the chicks body) end. There's some swelling around the chicks belly button.

Ah okay!! Mine ended up being fine!! The glob dried up in the bator. I cut alot of it off and thought the rest would fall off. I eventually had to sit there and soften up to remove it. It did a little blood on it's belly!! Good Luck with yours!!

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Thinner and dryer than that. More like a string the thickness of some embroidery thread with a flat, dry chunk - black and the size and thickness of a piece of pine shavings at the distal (away from the chicks body) end. There's some swelling around the chicks belly button.

That cockeral will probably be fine. Let him get warm and toasty in the incubator, keep an eye out for another hatchee to put him back in with, under the hen. If you can, get some water and food in him once he's a little more stabilized so he can catch up. You may have to provide supportive care all night.

Is the yolk area still in the shell? If not, he may have pulled it loose too early and needs some nutrition.

 

[curliet]

Kat, I agree with all the advice that you've gotten from all the others. I've had it happen in the incubator a few times, did as the rest did, cut that cord and left things to themselves. One chick made it, one didn't. I really doubt that your broody had anything to do with this, I would just leave her alone and let her hatch her remaining eggs. Sometimes, as they say, 'stuff happens'. It's out of your hands, and you have already done all the right things.

 

[pbjmaker]

ditto to what ranchhand said. I find that newly hatched chicks are either gonna live or they are going to die. I have tried salvaging many and they usually end up dying later on. My guess is that it hatched early and didn't absorb all of its yolk. I have had hens that will kill chicks that aren't up to snuff too. (Not often and they were good moms - they just knew the chick wasn't going to make it)

 

[gritsar]

Thanks y'all. I seriously doubt this chick will make it, but just wanted it to be warm while it passed and as I said, not contaminate the nest further. Then again, nobody thought Rowdy would make it after being temporarily paralyzed yet I just saw him trying to mate his sister, so who knows?

I'll leave it up to nature.

As I was removing the chick I did notice that he had apparently hatched close to one end of the egg, the larger end. She has another egg that has zipped, but it's around the center, not at either end.

 

[gryeyes]

Nothing's wrong with your broody, it's just the chick/egg situation. Sad, I know. I am also glad you had the Brinsea to arrange for a comfortable passing, if that's what happens.

 

[gritsar]

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I'm very glad for the brinsea too.