Chick died suddenly in incubator, seemed to have trouble breathing

[User635240]

Hi, this is probably a Welsummer - Marans cross. I halfway 'assisted hatched' this egg this morning - as there is a tendency for chicks to get shrinkwrapped in my coop. The chick seemed like it was trying to breathe, then it did succeed in breathing and cried a few times. Then the chick went back to heaving with no sound. I tended to something else for just a moment, and when I looked back he had died. Is this due to coccidia or asphyxia? Also, I gave the chick to my dogs to eat, and neither of them wanted it. I have been very careful to keepo the incubator closed and clean. Thanks for any insight!

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm sorry for your loss. This thread has some advice that was given to me when I had a spate of Dead-in-Shell issues: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/causes-for-dead-in-shell-after-pipping.1537121/

Sometimes the chick just has some kind of developmental problem incompatible with life: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/slowpoke-a-reality-check-after-an-assisted-hatch.77702/

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I'm sorry for your loss However, from looking at that picture you assisted too early and it died from blood loss. They start to breathe heavily when losing too much blood. I would also not recommend feeding dead chicks to your dogs because if they get a taste for it you might unintentionally put their prey drive into overdrive.

 

[User635240]

I'm sorry for your loss However, from looking at that picture you assisted too early and it died from blood loss. They also will breathe heavily when they start to lose too much blood. I would also not recommend feeding dead chicks to your dogs because if they get a taste for it you might unintentionally put their prey drive into overdrive.

OK, thanks for the info and advice.

 

[Oldegarlicshnapp]

Hi, this is probably a Welsummer - Marans cross. I halfway 'assisted hatched' this egg this morning - as there is a tendency for chicks to get shrinkwrapped in my coop. The chick seemed like it was trying to breathe, then it did succeed in breathing and cried a few times. Then the chick went back to heaving with no sound. I tended to something else for just a moment, and when I looked back he had died. Is this due to coccidia or asphyxia? Also, I gave the chick to my dogs to eat, and neither of them wanted it. I have been very careful to keepo the incubator closed and clean. Thanks for any insight!View attachment 3311833

What was the humidity and temperature?

 

[User635240]

What was the humidity and temperature?

The temp was stable at 99.5, although the alarm did go off a few times in the first week, when the temp dipped to 90, due to the cold weather. The humidity may have dipped to 40% once, but was usually at 60% and now 70%. How does this make a difference?

 

[Oldegarlicshnapp]

The temp was stable at 99.5, although the alarm did go off a few times in the first week, when the temp dipped to 90, due to the cold weather. The humidity may have dipped to 40% once, but was usually at 60% and now 70%. How does this make a difference?

Could be it was too humid. Through trial and error I’ve found that I get a 100% rate with no issues such as this, with 50% on 18-hatch day.
One time I had some eggs shipped with a funky issue with them. Perfect hatch rate, but one has liquid in its lungs you could hear. Haven’t had that from my own eggs though- and none of that weird stuff on the chicks. Maybe your chick had liquid, too much humidity, and passed.

 

[User635240]

Could be it was too humid. Through trial and error I’ve found that I get a 100% rate with no issues such as this, with 50% on 18-hatch day.
One time I had some eggs shipped with a funky issue with them. Perfect hatch rate, but one has liquid in its lungs you could hear. Haven’t had that from my own eggs though- and none of that weird stuff on the chicks. Maybe your chick had liquid, too much humidity, and passed.

I don't get it. Even with humidity of 70% in the incubator, the chicks that struggle and need to stay in there for 1-2 days after hatching, they completely dry out and can't even move unless I rub a bit of water on their feathers. Are you familiar with this?

 

[Kiki]

I don't get it. Even with humidity of 70% in the incubator, the chicks that struggle and need to stay in there for 1-2 days after hatching, they completely dry out and can't even move unless I rub a bit of water on their feathers. Are you familiar with this?

But a separate humidity gauge and salt test it.

 

[Kiki]

I'm sorry for your loss However, from looking at that picture you assisted too early and it died from blood loss. They start to breathe heavily when losing too much blood. I would also not recommend feeding dead chicks to your dogs because if they get a taste for it you might unintentionally put their prey drive into overdrive.

I agree with this.