Sticky, dried chick

[eestep8]

I had a chick hacth last night that never fluffed, I got it out today and its feathers have something on them and they dried stiff and stuck to its body.
I have gotten it out twice now and kept it in a warm wet washcloth and softly rubbed it. Is there anything else I can do? It seems to help a little.

 

[patyrdz]

UGH! I've had a couple like that! You may have to use a little more water. Some would advise against it, and I don't want to advise you wrong!!

But..... I ran the warm water and held the chick right next to it and rubbed it with my finger wetting the chick this way! I made sure there were no drafts, and then quickly dried it and popped it back in the incubator. I was if it had just hatched and was as good as new in a couple of hours. Good luck, I hope you can fluff it up. I know they get sooo stiff when that happens.

 

[KattyKillFish]

i get one or two like that some time. just get a warm damp towel and fluff her up a bit. be sure to dry her afterward, she might get chilled!

 

[Goose and Fig]

I've had this hapen as well. I didn't use any water- just rubbed them a little (against the feather grain) and the dried stuff flakes off. Kinda like chicky dandruff. They ended up looking just like the other chicks.

 

[MissPrissy]

Sticky chicks are a sign of humidity issues during incubation and hatching. You can leave the chick alone and in a couple days it will fluff up as the sticky goop flakes off. If you wash the chick under warm water besure to dry it well with a warm towel and get it under the heat lamps ASAP.

 

[addicted2chicks]

MissPrissy when you say humidity issues does that mean too high or too low or just a mixture? All mine that hatched first were fluffy but the last 2 were stiff feathers, 1 was really bad and that was the last one.

 

[MissPrissy]

Too low.