Premature chick and burst yolk

ChickClown

In the Brooder
Jul 6, 2025
27
44
41
Queensland Australia
I’m not sure if it’s an emergency but I’ve read that it is

On Friday we had a chick starting to hatch, it was hatching upside down so we assisted but when it came out, it had hatched prematurely but they were and still strong, last night their yolk bursted and we had a sleepless night till it stopped leaking, the yolk is currently dark red in colour and stiff like clotted blood but it doesn’t smell infected however it smells fishy, it’s been over 24 hours since it burst and the chick despite not ever standing before has tried to stand and successfully did so for a few seconds, we are keeping them isolated and cleaning them with warm water when we can to prevent any infection and we every so often give them water by holding a shallow dish of water up to the tip of their beak and they’ve drunken water but have not eaten food yet even though we tried to give them some chick starter

I think we are doing ok but I would like some advice since this is a very new thing to me and I am very worried for the little guy
 
I’m not sure if it’s an emergency but I’ve read that it is

On Friday we had a chick starting to hatch, it was hatching upside down so we assisted but when it came out, it had hatched prematurely but they were and still strong, last night their yolk bursted and we had a sleepless night till it stopped leaking, the yolk is currently dark red in colour and stiff like clotted blood but it doesn’t smell infected however it smells fishy, it’s been over 24 hours since it burst and the chick despite not ever standing before has tried to stand and successfully did so for a few seconds, we are keeping them isolated and cleaning them with warm water when we can to prevent any infection and we every so often give them water by holding a shallow dish of water up to the tip of their beak and they’ve drunken water but have not eaten food yet even though we tried to give them some chick starter

I think we are doing ok but I would like some advice since this is a very new thing to me and I am very worried for the little guy
Pictures would help
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
 
Here is the process of the chick and the burst yolk from when it first burst to now
IMG_7346.jpeg
IMG_7347.jpeg
IMG_7348.jpeg
IMG_7351.jpeg
 
Here is the process of the chick and the burst yolk from when it first burst to nowView attachment 4166726View attachment 4166727View attachment 4166728View attachment 4166729
I would like to clarify that the blood on its face and body is from it hatching, it was very bloody and gooey and we’ve tried wiping the blood off with warm water but it did nothing, neither has it helped with getting the fluid from the yolk off of it

Perhaps a bit of advice would be needed for that too, online says to wash it in warm water and dry it in a warm towel? Unfortunately it’s the middle of winter here so everything gets cold fast and we don’t want to risk it
 
Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry about your chick.

How is she doing now? Has she absorbed any of the material at all or does she still have tissue hanging out?
If you have updated photos those may help, but to me it looks like she has intestines hanging out. If that's the case, then unfortunately, I don't think she'll make it, it may be best to cull her.

@Kiki do you have any other suggestions.
 
Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry about your chick.

How is she doing now? Has she absorbed any of the material at all or does she still have tissue hanging out?
If you have updated photos those may help, but to me it looks like she has intestines hanging out. If that's the case, then unfortunately, I don't think she'll make it, it may be best to cull her.

@Kiki do you have any other suggestions.
She has something stuck to her tummy, I have asked my sister to help me check her tummy but she says not to worry, she is still fighting strong last time I checked, my mum who knows a bit about chicks says that she looks ok, unfortunately I don’t think I could cull her if I had to and I’d have to wait for my grandma to help if I have to do that, I will ask my sister to help me get a good photo of her tummy since I am scared I will hurt her if I hold her
 
Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry about your chick.

How is she doing now? Has she absorbed any of the material at all or does she still have tissue hanging out?
If you have updated photos those may help, but to me it looks like she has intestines hanging out. If that's the case, then unfortunately, I don't think she'll make it, it may be best to cull her.

@Kiki do you have any other suggestions.
I got a photo of her tummy
IMG_7353.jpeg

This is the best photo I could get of it

Also got a photo of her standing or sitting
IMG_7354.jpeg
 
An update on the premature chick, they started walking and standing, they had exited the small box they are in and tried having a journey to the other side of the incubator
 
I’m sorry for posting another update on the chick, the mass that I think is the yolk but others thought was intestines is nearly falling off, it seems to just be connected by the umbilical cord, we also gave her a bath, and placed her back into the incubator immediately so she can warm back up and dry off, she has started being able to stand for small amounts of time now, she also ate a tiny bit, we are still keeping her isolated from the other chicks till we know she is strong enough and there is no chance of infection, don’t worry, they are all in the same room and can hear each other when one cheeps so it’s not total isolation, and we also put newly hatched chicks in the same part of the incubator as the premature one till they can either walk or hold their heads up, so little one doesn’t get lonely

I also want to share the name of the premature one

Her name is Powder, like powder puff which is adorable
 

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