Unexpected hatch. Chick rubbed raw on turner.

[Redhead Rae]

About 2 weeks ago, I found my Dark Cornish sitting on 9 eggs. I thought they had stopped laying so I hadn't been checking. One hen was broody, but isn't good with eggs (she already smashed a few) and a horrible mother. So I moved the eggs into the incubator and I knew I would have a staggered hatch. I candled the eggs on Saturday and the eggs were NOWHERE near as developed as the eggs that I was moving to lock down that day. Well, the eggs I moved to lock down hatched yesterday and I gave them to a broody.

Well I looked at the Cornish eggs thinking I would need to candle them tonight to see if they needed to be moved to lock down yet. I saw one egg that was pipped. I took the top off for an emergency move to lock down and found a baby that had already hatched and fell between the turner and the wall. At first, I thought it had yolk sack issues because I saw a fluid filled sac attached to the chick. Upon further inspection I found that it was a fluid filled blister on the poor baby's right thigh. I surmise the problem was caused by the chick trying to stand up and move next to the turner. I think the chick hatched this morning because it is mostly fluffed out. I gave the baby some Nutri Drench (straight) and decided to leave the blister intact. The effected area is about the size of a nickle and I don't want to have that big of an open wound on such a little baby.

Note: this is not a umbilical issue. The umbilical is closed up nicely.

Is there anything else I can do?

 

[Redhead Rae]

@azygous, @casportpony, @Eggcessive, @WVduckchick, @Pyxis

 

[CSAchook]

Sorry Rae That had to be a nasty surprise. I think not popping it is a wise decision. It is unlikely to get infected in there is no open wound. Is the blister positioned such that it will put pressure on it when it sits or lies down? Can you lightly put a gauze dressing over it for added protection?
If you don't cover it, maybe a little blukote to deter picking?
Just brain-storming here. I am sure the expert cavalry will arrive soon

 

[Redhead Rae]

Sorry Rae That had to be a nasty surprise. I think not popping it is a wise decision. It is unlikely to get infected in there is no open wound. Is the blister positioned such that it will put pressure on it when it sits or lies down? Can you lightly put a gauze dressing over it for added protection?
If you don't cover it, maybe a little blukote to deter picking?
Just brain-storming here. I am sure the expert cavalry will arrive soon

No, the blister isn't in a position that it can be sat on. I've been thinking about putting a dressing over it but I'm not sure how to without covering its vent. I'll have to experiment. Right now I'm just letting the baby rest in my lock down incubator. It's the only one to hatch so far, so no worries about picking yet.

 

[CSAchook]

No, the blister isn't in a position that it can be sat on. I've been thinking about putting a dressing over it but I'm not sure how to without covering its vent. I'll have to experiment. Right now I'm just letting the baby rest in my lock down incubator.

I tried reading human medicine sites (web MD, Mayo Clinic) and both said:
1)Don't pop it!
2) You can leave it undressed or loosely covered.
3) Dressing/bandaging likely only necessary if the area is likely to be hit/bumped/ rubbed against more.

So, I think, maybe just monitor her? Keep her warm, make sure she eats and drinks, basically the usual stuff

Maybe put her in the brooder and give her a small stuffed animal or stuffed sock to snuggle with so she will keep calm (while you wait for others to hatch).

 

[Redhead Rae]

I tried reading human medicine sites (web MD, Mayo Clinic) and both said:
1)Don't pop it!
2) You can leave it undressed or loosely covered.
3) Dressing/bandaging likely only necessary if the area is likely to be hit/bumped/ rubbed against more.

So, I think, maybe just monitor her? Keep her warm, make sure she eats and drinks, basically the usual stuff

Maybe put her in the brooder and give her a small stuffed animal or stuffed sock to snuggle with so she will keep calm (while you wait for others to hatch).

I have the chick in my incubator now. I think I'll move the 5 chicks in my indoor brooder outside tonight and move this poor baby down with food and water. I'll give it Nutri Drench every 3 hours or so to keep its strength up until I can get it to food.

 

[CSAchook]

I have the chick in my incubator now. I think I'll move the 5 chicks in my indoor brooder outside tonight and move this poor baby down with food and water. I'll give it Nutri Drench every 3 hours or so to keep its strength up until I can get it to food.

I think that sounds like a good plan! If you really did need to cover the blister, I was thinking a very small (re: milk drinker size) sock cut with some carefully placed holes would swaddle her up....but it probably isn't necessary at this point.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I think that sounds like a good plan! If you really did need to cover the blister, I was think a very small (re: milk drinker size) sock cut with some carefully placed holes would swaddle her up....but it probably isn't necessary at this point.

Great idea! I have some newborn size socks that never fit the Milk Drinker's duck feet.

 

[Pyxis]

I would just monitor it for now. As it heals the fluid should go down. I definitely wouldn't pop it, as has been said.

 

[Anansi]

Rae, you're doing everything right. Unless the blister pops, you don't need to do much except monitor it. The sock idea is good, just be sure to check the area several times a day. You can cover it with antibiotic ointment, but I would recommend not covering it if you go that route. Definitely apply antibiotic ointment if the blister pops. I hope the little one recovers fully from this.