[Coeur de Chene]

 What's the most humane way to deal with a chick thats not formed properly? Just had one that I didn't want to suffer, and there's another lingering in its shell that may have the same problem- an unformed umbilical? I was reading on this site about the possibility using metacam for adults. Is there something so it could just go to sleep?

[Coeur de Chene]

just read some American websites saying that they can recover from this. Any experienced chicken hatchers still awake out there?

[HesterF]

Do you mean the umbilical is still hanging out a bit when they hatch? I've had that - in the fact the goose today had it - I think just because I've hurried them out a bit too fast - and it does get absorbed if you leave them. Certainly wouldn't cull yet. I've not had a cull a chick - the only one I was really worried about got grabbed by a cat before I had the chance. But I believe there are special pincers you can buy for dispatching chicks - no idea how effective they are.

[Coeur de Chene]

Thanks HesterF. Unfortunately a neighbour was here when that one hatched and as they are always hatching birds I took her advice that it was suffering. Feel sick with myself now.

[HesterF]

Well she saw it so she could well have been right. It's just that absorbing the yolk through the umbilical is about the last thing that happens before they hatch - along with cutting off the veins that run all round the inside of the membrane - so sometimes they haven't got the timing quite right (or I've intervened enough to throw them).

[Coeur de Chene]

Thank you for your reply. I can only hope that she knew what she was talking about, and that I've learnt something.

[shygirl]

the ones iv had that have been slow to hatch and late to absorb the final bits of yolk, and have a saggy bum etc have died slowly. healthy chicks are up and away quickly. i think your friend did the right thing. its part of hatching really, but still sad.

[Coeur de Chene]

Thank you for the reassuring post Shygirl. These are the last 2 and have lingered, unlike the other 6. So difficult finding and trying to do the right thing sometimes.

[shygirl]

there was a thread on dispatching chicks recently. i think pliers to the neck was one of the methods recommended.
its very rare to hatch out eggs and not to lose something.
my best hatches were when i have left them alone totally, as im sure lifting the lid and peeping effects humidity etc. transferring from a incubator to a hatcher would maybe reduce losses but you would have to hatch out alot to justify that investment maybe.
i never solved the problem with slow hatchers or saggy bums tho 

[Coeur de Chene]

I needed that hug... The last one has finally hatched and it does have a bit of a droop but nothing like the coils of the last one. I'm going to leave well alone and see how it fares in the morning  Night night