I hatched out 10 chicks today. One was a breech baby and it had a rough hatch.

It is now out of its shell with a little assitance from me. BUT.... something is protruding from is umbilical area. Large yellow round mass with some blood vessels on the outside. Also looks like the umbilical area is swollen.

This chick has never been the strongest. It pipped about 20 hours ago and just emerged 15 mins ago. It is nothing like my others... practically jumping out of the incubator.

I now have it under a desk lamp at 99 degrees. I have been giving it a some water by a dropper.

Anyone know what is going on with this chick and how to help it? What should I expect?

Thanks.. Kari

Kari, Do forget the water with an eyedropper!!! The chick will need nothing until the yolk has been absorbed into the abdomen, or dries and will drop off. Until it is healed, better not to be with other chicks, who will peck it and make the area bleed. Forcing food and water for a chick for the first 2,3,4 days will surely kill it. Let it sleep and rest. When it is ready, it will eat and just a drop of water from the end of your finger--if it wants it, will be enough--another drop, if it doesn't choke on it and have trouble swallowing it. While most baby chicks will eat and drink right after hatch--sometimes before they are dry, we should not worry it they do not eat for several days--think of all the healthy chicks that are shipped--no food or water at all until arrival. Chicks are not like mammal babies, and food or water will just stay in the crop, if the system is not ready for it. And at the temp we must keep them, it can just spoil there! Good luck, CJR

Thanks :-)

UPDATE.....

Well the chick is doing much better today. I think that heat does more good than anything!!

The chick is chirping good and up moving a bit and has pooped... that has to be good.

Another question

Whenever the yolk falls off or gets absorbed... I am sure the umbilical area will be raw....

should I put some neosporin on it to help prevent infection or will it be okay without it?

Thanks again,
Kari

PS... had another surpise last night.. I now have 11 hatched chicks.

A big healthy bruiser of a chick hatched at 1am .. 1 hour from pip to hatch and was running in all of about 30 mins. Some chicken!! LOL!!

Kari, Without seeing it, I think I would prefer to have it dry up. If you add neosporin ointment, be sure it is just around the navel and not on the cord itself, or it will hang on longer. After it is well hardened, you can snip it off short. Aren't some of these chicks amazing. Some sleep pretty much for a few days and others just get up and GO ! Actually, when you work with the birds as individuals, you will see that they are not all alike, but very individual! Some have personality right from the beginning--but others develop a "personality" as they grow. Others are "just chickens". Always interesting and a pleasure (well, almost always!). CJR

UPDATE AGAIN......

Well the chick is doing great!! If fact it made a break for it this morning, jumped right out of the shoe box onto the floor. Didn't know what to do once it got there ??? Got a bigger box and I think it might try it again. I'm running out of boxes :-)

It is eating and drinking and pooping. AND CHIRPING!!

The yolk is still hangin on. I feel bad for it. It wants to be with the others. They chirp back and forth. This just complains and complains. But that yolk is an open invitation to pick.

Questions.... how long does it usually take for a yolk to fall off?? Can I speed it up like you speed up a babies umbilical stump? Is it safe?

My other chicks are geting big fast!!! Will this chick fall so far behind since the others essetially have a 2 day head start or can it catch up being on its own the way it is?

Other than the yolk it is a healthy and very loud chick.. just want it to survive and thrive :-)

Thanks... Kari

Kari,

I haven't had a chick with that problem so I don't have the answers you are wanting on that issue. However, I wanted to say that if you can put something soft in there with the lone chick, a small stuffed animal, a sock and maybe a small mirror, he will feel more like he isn't alone.

Good luck with him. Things sure sound good so far! I'm sure somebody will come along with the answer for how long this takes.

Susie

Kari, Wrote very much the same message, but guess I didn't post it???

The yolk should have dried up near the body,in just a couple of days, and if you can gently probe it away, you might be able to snip it off fairly close. There should be no blood vessels to worry about.

And yes, a mirror should stop the crying, just tape one to the side of the box and place feed in front. An only CHILDchick will become a CHICKchild and will recognize its siblings as one of its kind, when it can rejoin them, instead of being a lonely chickbrat. Mine have spent hours talk-talking to the chick in the mirror! Of course, the others may not be kind to it when you can let them rejoin--but worry about that when the time comes--soon. I usually have to put a piece of hardward cloth over the shoe box after a few day, as some WILL jump out. Good luck, CJR

Well... the mirror is working. It is talking to itself as I type... lol!! It also seems to enjoy pecking at itself. :-)

I will keep a close eye on that yolk. I hope I can get it off tommorrow.

Thanks so much!! :-)

Kari

Well.... the chick is in with the crowd now.

The mirror worked for a while but then he proceeded to cry all night.

This morning his yolk had dried up a lot so I started fiddlin with it and most of it came off. What is left I let rest for a while and get to lookin better. I put some no pick stuff down there and put it in with the others. They tried to pick on the chick but it just picked right back and they are staying clear now.... some chick.

That first day, I thought it was a gonner. LOL!!! What do I know!!

Thanks so much for the help... I am gonna keep a close eye on it but I think it is gonna do great. :-)

--Kari