- Oct 15, 2012
- 25
- 0
- 22
Hi, I had the most beautiful little silkie chick hatch about 24 hours ago - about three days after her four sisters (or brothers) arrived. They were all under a broody hen. Although she was late hatching, the actual hatch didn't take too long. Egg was cheeping on Friday night, I saw first peep on Saturday morning and then she was out by midday. Anyway just now I was showing her to my children and noticed she had something dried up stuck to her backside. I thought it was poop and got some warm water to clean it with. When I went to clean it, I noticed it isn't stuck to her rectum, but actually about 0.5cm below. So I was wondering if chicks have an umbilical cord or something that attaches them to the egg, and if so, would this be it? I've never noticed it on a chick before, but I am not very experienced either. I didn't try to remove it and it doesn't seem to be bothering her. She is a little chick, but acting normally for a day-old chick and is learning the basics of being a chicken (like walking!). She even followed her siblings and had her first tentative peck at food earlier. I would be interested to hear opinions on what this dried-up thing might be and what (if anything) I should do about it. It's dark in colour and is about 0.5-1cm in diameter. I hope it's nothing to worry about as she is just so cute, I don't want to lose her. And I think she might be a buff, and I've never had a buff silkie before. Here is a photo I took before I noticed whatever it is on her rear, otherwise I would have taken a photo from behind.
