Chick hatched with no eyes and a cross beak

[Redhead Rae]

I’ll add, I live in a drafty old house without climate control. So I use a heater plate as my only source of warmth. I had one chick that wasn’t completely mobile get burned on the plate because it rolled into the low side and couldn’t move away.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Also, I’m high pitched deaf. So I can’t hear if the babies are distressed. Unless I’m 6 inches away.

 

[chickens really]

I’ll add, I live in a drafty old house without climate control. So I use a heater plate as my only source of warmth. I had one chick that wasn’t completely mobile get burned on the plate because it rolled into the low side and couldn’t move away.

I use a heat lamp and only heat part of my Brooder. They will move away from heat if too warm or huddle if too cold..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. I certainly hope it's not Marek's. I had to assist this one in hatching, as well as two of the other three that hatched. Ironically the one with deformities was the only one that didn't need an assisted hatch. The other two that were assisted appear fine and are up and running around, causing trouble as chicks do. This one may just be weaker or have something wrong internally. I hope it makes it, but I'm not sure. I'll try everything I can though. I've only hatched three times and I've had such bad luck each time... I feel so bad for these babies this time around and like it's my fault. It makes me want to give up on hatching.

How are your little ones doing?

I think @Redhead Rae has reassured you about it not being Marek's, I will also say, this is not Marek's. I agree with her about giving the Poultry Nutri-Drench if you can get some it would be good.

I am not an experienced hatcher, so I can't even take a guess as to what may be the problem, but some deformities can be caused due to improper incubation. There's are experienced folks on the Incubation Forum that should know what causes some of these problems (humidity too high/low, temperature fluctuations, etc.). There is also a hatching 101 section which I found to be very useful when I hatched eggs. Defects and deformities can also be genetic and/or related to parent stock health and nutrition as well. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubating-and-hatching-chicken-eggs.64195/

 

[Thedogsbark]

Update on the chick that could not hold its neck up. I dripped some sav-a-chick into its beak this morning and just hoped. I didn't expect it to live, but when I checked on it next it would stand up every now and then and lift its head to look around. It has now improved much more and can stand, walk, and move both its head and neck. Thank you everyone for the advice.

As for the other, she is still doing well. We believe she may actually have one eye that is stuck shut and are currently trying to help her get it open if this is the case.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update on the chick that could not hold its neck up. I dripped some sav-a-chick into its beak this morning and just hoped. I didn't expect it to live, but when I checked on it next it would stand up every now and then and lift its head to look around. It has now improved much more and can stand, walk, and move both its head and neck. Thank you everyone for the advice.

As for the other, she is still doing well. We believe she may actually have one eye that is stuck shut and are currently trying to help her get it open if this is the case.

This sounds promising
For the chick that was struggling keeping it's head up, I would still give it a few drops of the electrolytes for the next couple of days - just like you are doing.

If you think the cross beak has an eye stuck closed, try using warm compresses to help get it open. Work on it slowly and give her breaks if she seems distressed. I would also see about getting some electrolytes into her too.

Thank you for the update. Keep us posted.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

What was your chick born with, if you don't mind me asking.

Here are some pictures of the little chick.

I don't know how to care for blind chickens, but I can tell you that a deep dish with slightly watered-down food is very helpful for chickens with crossed beaks.

 

[Thedogsbark]

I don't know how to care for blind chickens, but I can tell you that a deep dish with slightly watered-down food is very helpful for chickens with crossed beaks.

I just started getting her to eat a little bit with some watered-down food. Currently having to use a syringe, but she is always eager and ready to eat when I start feeding her. Hoping to soon get her to switch to a bowl, even if she still needs help.
Possibly still looks like she may have one eye. If she does it is still closed and I'm having no luck getting it open. Someone told me that they read about a chick that hatched with no eyes and a cross beak like mine, but at a week old it opened one eye.

Picture taken after I was gently dabbing it with a wet q-tip trying to see if I could get it open if she does have one.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I just started getting her to eat a little bit with some watered-down food. Currently having to use a syringe, but she is always eager and ready to eat when I start feeding her. Hoping to soon get her to switch to a bowl, even if she still needs help.
Possibly still looks like she may have one eye. If she does it is still closed and I'm having no luck getting it open. Someone told me that they read about a chick that hatched with no eyes and a cross beak like mine, but at a week old it opened one eye.

Picture taken after I was gently dabbing it with a wet q-tip trying to see if I could get it open if she does have one.

Having one eye would make such a huge difference to her quality of life!!! I Hope she opens that eye for you and takes a good look around!!!

 

[Thedogsbark]

Dottie has sadly passed away today. She was not doing so great these past few days, despite starting to eat on her own for the first time last night. She was a week old today. I suppose something internally was going on and she could no longer fight it. I also lost the hen that may have been her mother a few hours earlier than her. She was my sweet little mixed breed hen. I wish there was more I could have done for the both of them. Something to change this outcome. Dottie and Penelope will be deeply missed.