Updated Pics: How do you clean a shrink wrapped chick?

[mediazeal]

I had to put the chick I helped out of her shrink wrapped package back in the bater to dry out.
She's still pretty wobbly, partly because she still has shelac sections. But I was afraid to stress her any more and part of that was the need to get her warm and dry again. I got her pretty wet to get the stuff off her head, eyes, wing, leg joints, chest, under neck front side.
She is alone in the incubator, last to hatch.

I took her out again for a few minutes now that she is dry and sort of hard all over. Joints are working though, no longer all stuck together.
I put tiny drops of water on my fingers and she drank it. Then rewarded me with a big poop.

She needs a bath. Who has done that to get them cleaned up?
How did you get the shelac off? or do you let them grow out of it?
She was in the shell for too long waiting for help and she's tired, but keeps talking to me.
How long should I wait before messing with her again? wait til morning?

Not holding her head up for long periods of time yet
and there is alot of shelac on her neck still which I think makes it hard
think it's hard for her to move around, keep her balance
course, they are wobbly chicks for a couple of hours

What has worked for you that have helped a chick through this
what should I avoid

I'm encouraged that she just climbed on top of the eggs in there to nap and is doing the little trill thing.
thanks for your help

 

[Chicky Mama]

Hi,ours had a hard hatch as well.When they were a day old I took em' to the sink in a warm wet towl to loosen it and used a toothbrush and a lil more water and lightly scrubbed til it was clean.That's what I read on here from someone.

 

[insiderart]

As long as the membrane isn't imparing it's wings, legs, vent, eyes, or anything important I would leave it for the night. It probably needs to rest for a while.

 

[mediazeal]

Ok, thanks all
I just put her in the brooder on a washcloth (dry) with food and water
put a cardboard and wiremesh screen between her and the other chicks
worried they will peck her to death since she looks funny
she was crying and crying in the incubator (which is in my room)
I'm exhausted
sure she is too
thanks for the advice
we will see what tomorrow brings

 

[HBuehler]

The toothbrush tip came from me but as the others said leave her alone to sleep.It won't hurt her..see I said her for good sexing vibes
When she's up and perky gently use the toothbrush and warm water if needed to get off what you can.I wouldn't give her a full bath though-the other chicks will remove any small stuff while she's being "groomed" by them.You know how they are in the brooder-small shavings dust on them gets picked off...as long as her head is good and clean so they don't pick her eyes.
Congratulations on the chick

 

[shay20]

What you can do, this is what i do, when the chick hatches and get the stuff all dried up on it.

Wet a small cloth with very warm water, wrap it around the chick not the fase though. and put back into the incubator, if it still small enough it will just lay in the cloth.

what that does is between the heat and the wet cloth on the chick it will soften all that goo, and it will be easy to wipe off.

oh i just read you have her out of the bator. what you can do now is.
turn up the heat in your bathroom, let it hot there. put very warm water in the sink, i mean warm enough but not hot.
hold the chick in the water ( NOT HER HEAD) until you feel the gunk getting soft then you can start to peel it of very slowly and should also get so you can rub it off. make sure the water stays warm with no chills.

thwn dry the chick off as much as you can in the bathroom, then cover the chick to bring back into the brooder, but make sure it does get any drafts while its wet.

 

[mediazeal]

She was resting better this morning. We had a long night....
She's getting around much better and eating crumbles.
I gave her a first toothbrush cleaning. Didn't do alot, but we will do many of these.

Here is a pic of her and her 'buddy', hopefully

 

[insiderart]

Poor little Muffin. I would soak off the piece right there on it's neck in case it's pokey to it.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I usually let them rest the first day - then if the gunk isn't wearing off I might help it a little with some warm water on a baby hair brush (they are very soft). I try not to soak the chick, but rather put the water onto the brush to loosen the fluff a little at a time. It takes a few treaments, and usually I just do it until it is comfortable for her.

the rest will wear off when she switches fluff for feathers.

meri

 

[mediazeal]

Thanks folks
I'll let you know how she does
I just got home from an event I had to go to tonight and she is doing ok. I put one chick in with her. They are getting along ok and she is getting stronger, just looks terrible and the gunk is probably making it harder for her to move around well. but she's doing it.
walking better, etc.
I'll give her a light, moist brushing again tomorrow
now we are both tired.