Help Please - Newly hatched abandoned hen chicks. Not sure what I should do.

[corporatechick]

My hen went broody on four eggs in a nestbox which is raised about a foot off the ground. I stupidly let her stay there thinking that I could move her to the broody coop after the hatch (it is ready now but wasn't at the time she went broody). I left her in the nest three nights ago hatching the eggs (I thought - I found an eggshell but no yolk/egg/chick etc.). The following morning she was on the floor of the coop with a chick and the other three eggs were left in the nestbox. I assumed the chick fell out and she joined it. I don't know how long the three eggs were left getting cold but I put them near her and hoped she would carry on. She did, kind of, but they were never all covered all of the time. The following day I found some bits of eggshell and she seemed as though she was hatching out another chick and the remaining two eggs were just left to the side of her. I thought they must be dead but when I picked them up one was pipped and chirping and the other had pipped and was quiet but I could see the body breathing so I left them next to her. The second chick I thought she must have under her as she was so dedicated to sitting on the floor even though her active chick was running around has completely vanished. Even now I have not found an eggshell or chick or anything for that fourth egg, it is very strange. This was yesterday. The other two eggs still had living chicks in them but she never took them back , perhaps because the first hatched chick has been running around like a lunatic and needs her more?

Now the biggest problem : Even without her, the other two eggs hatched (just on the coop floor). I thought I was picking up dead chicks this morning but it turned out they are alive but very weak. At least one has been stood on and they both have something stringy hanging out of their backsides. I hoped she would respond to their cheeping (they don't cheep all the time, only when she/I come near) but she has spent most of the day out with her active chick and even when inside the coop she has completely ignored them. So I brought them inside and have them under a lamp in a cardboard box.

I was hoping that the fact they hatched despite her would mean they were fairly strong chicks but they don't look very well to me. Both of them seem to have yolk/blood around their backsides, they both have their eyes closed (I have seen them open but only briefly and usually whilst cheeping), they both are fairly quiet (only cheeping if I touch them or the box is moved) and they both don't seem able to walk yet. However they are also both looking better than they did when I first brought them in.

My questions are : should I wash the mess (yolk / blood I assume) off their behinds or will that hurt them / stress them even more? Is the leg weakness / eyes shut etc. normal for newly hatched chicks or should they be running about and cheeping by now (it has been about 8 hours since I found them presumed dead on the coop floor, but only about four since I brought them in to look after them after realising their mum wasn't going to and they haven't had an easy hatch so perhaps are still tired?). They both do seem to be trying to move about but I don't know if that is a positive sign or not. So far I have only tried to get them to drink a little - only a few sips over these last few hours and I'm not sure they are happy about it, I think they probably think I am trying to drown them.

I would really appreciate some help / advice if anyone has any.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wouldn't wash them unless necessary, get them under some heat, that's about all you can do, they won't want to eat or drink, nor should they need to for a day or so, they absorb the egg yolk before hatching, that's what gives them energy, it can take 12-24 hours after hatching to get moving about well, keep them on paper towels for traction, and scatter some chick feed on the floor in case they become interested, and I would add a teaspoon of brown sugar to a quart of water, for them to drink, it's a quick energy source, mostly leave them be for a bit, that's all you can do at this point, hope they perk up.

 

[corporatechick]

Thanks for your reply. I hope I haven't already fussed them about too much. I will sprinkle some chick feed and leave them be.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hatching chicks under broodies always comes with drama in one form or another, I certainly would talk to them like their mother would do, good thoughts for you.

 

[donrae]

I had a very similar situation recently, the egg hatched after the hen had left the nest with the active chicks. I also thought it was dead, it was so cold. Brought it in and put it in the incubator and just left it alone (already had the incubator fired up with eggs in it). It recovered nicely and I put it back with momma the next day. It's now a healthy 3 month old pullet

I'd say don't mess with cleaning them at this point. Make sure they're going to live first. That stuff on them won't effect their survival either way, but stressing them and chilling them could. Leave them under the lamp and just see how it goes. I wouldn't advocate pushing fluids with a syringe at this point either. Wait until they're alert and standing--if they don't reach that point on their own they're probably not going to make it no matter what you do.

 

[corporatechick]

Thanks for the replies. I left them alone under a lamp overnight. Apart from a couple of times when I had to go and help one which was peeping because it had gone onto its back and couldn't right itself they were both fairly quiet through the night. They were both alive at a little before three, but when I went to check on them again this morning at six I found both of them had sadly died.

 

[donrae]

I'm so sorry. Sometimes they're just too far gone when we find them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry

 

[Frizzle Chicken]

I ahve this same situation. The abandoned chick is unfortunately only about eighty degrees while the incubator is getting hot but it is doing well. It has tried to stand up and has not done bad but it still failed. I think it has been left for about four hours so it might not be as far gone. I will put some food and water by it but is there anything else to do? Please reply quickly

 

[Frizzle Chicken]

News Flash! It is also opening its eyes regularly and peeping regularly to. If it makes it its name will be Lucky. If its a hen we'll spell it with an I.