Urgent: Just Hatched Chick Struggling and Goop Hardening

[casportpony]

For cleaning the really sticky goo off I use wet q-tips or damp paper towels. I pay close attention to the temp of the chick and if it starts to get chilled I stick it back in the incubator.

More pictures, including one of the poop stuck to but are needed.

 

[aart]

Most of that stuff will 'wear' off.....
....could take it a few hours to get it's feet under it, hard work hatching is.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Here are more pictures. The poop cleaned right up. I tried gently wiping with a towel and it came right off. It just looked pasted on. The umbilical looks good.

The chick only relaxes when it has its legs under it, but immediately flips itself on its back if I lay its head on the floor of the incubator. So I propped it up on two eggs and it seemed happiest that way. You can see how crusty its back is.

 

[Redhead Rae]

For cleaning the really sticky goo off I use wet q-tips or damp paper towels. I pay close attention to the temp of the chick and if it starts to get chilled I stick it back in the incubator.

More pictures, including one of the poop stuck to but are needed.

But I shouldn't wrap it in a wet towel because that will chill it right?

 

[casportpony]

Is the goo so bad that the chick is having trouble moving? If not, I would leave it alone.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I'd try wrapping the chick in moistened paper towels and leaving in the incubator until egg membranes are moistened - then carefully remove making sure chick does not get chilled. 'Helped' chicks frequently have leg problems which may or may not be resolved. Sometimes they are just weakened and sometimes they are congenital and have led to the hatching problems. Be sure to dry the chick and make sure it is kept warm after cleaning. Good luck.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Is the goo so bad that the chick is having trouble moving? If not, I would leave it alone.

The goo coats its entire back and one wing. maybe some of the neck. There is some on it's face and beak. Maybe I should at least clean its eyes and nostrils.

 

[casportpony]

The goo coats its entire back and one wing. maybe some of the neck. There is some on it's face and beak. Maybe I should at least clean its eyes and nostrils.

Eyes and nostrils would be fine.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Is it good to leave it propped on the other eggs like I did?

 

[aart]

It's gonna flop around like a drunken sailor, alarming but it's what they do.
Best to close the cover and let it rest.