Uh-Oh: Yolk? Wah!

[peepinglaura]

I jhave a newly hatched chick trailing some goop. I assume it's yolk sac and umbilical cord I see. I suspect it was born a bit before it was ready- another chick actually managed to smash part of its shell opposite to its pip. There's a bit of a pink skin protrusion and then this goop, which is more greenish brown than yellow.

Is it a goner? Is it a waiting game? Can I help? It's walking around some. It hatched maybe 20 minutes ago.

 

[Farm Frenzy]

I had a baby hatch like that before...and unfortunately didn't make it. BUT, I have read here on BYC that people have had them live, so don't lose hope yet.

 

[peepinglaura]

Thanks. Was the yolk sac yellow? This wasn't. How long did yours hold on?

Its wings seem stubby as well. I'm not full of hope.

 

[peepinglaura]

If anyone here has had one live, what, if anything, did you do to help it?

 

[Farm Frenzy]

Just use the Google custom search engine for this forum and search "babies hatched with yolk sac" or something. I bet old discussions will come up to better inform you.

 

[TillinWithMyPeeps]

Like this?:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=142350

It is best to just wrap it up in a warm moist paper towel and then put it back in the incubator for a couple of hours. Check on it every once in a while to make sure the paper towel doesn't dry out.

Good Luck!

 

[silkiechicken]

If it is green, don't worry, that's just basically the poop sac for when the chick is in the shell. If it's orange-yellow with veins on the outside, that is the yolk. The green thing should dry up in a day or so and fall off!

 

[peepinglaura]

Thank you, Silkiechickens. It was green, and now it's already gone! Your clarification has left me relieved.

I had done the google custom search, but none of it seemed to apply because he posts I found assumed a knowledge of what the yolk looked like in the first place!

 

[Farm Frenzy]

Or does it look like this?

 

[peepinglaura]

Yikes! No, it does not. What is that in the pic? My guy seems to be doing just fine now, as Silkiechickens described.