- Aug 6, 2012
- 16
- 0
- 77
...Ok...
We messed up on our first run and have a staggered clutch. Hen left the nest with her two chicks leaving behind several eggs... which we candled and float tested. Seems like they're ok so made makeshift incubator out of soup pot with lid, desk lamp, thermometer and water spritzer. One egg pipped and stayed with one tiny hole for over 12 hours. We found this thread and zipped open a ring of shell. 3 hours later nothing yet, the membrane had definitely been white and tough-- we spent that 3 hours soaking. Finally, did a little prodding to help "push" the chick out of the membrane hole about half way. It has been now laying this way 7 hours. Just now my 6 year old pulled hte rest of the egg off its backside. It's laying there breathing, moving a bit now and again, eyes still closed, wet (on a wet papertowel, in the warm bator)... it's bottom looks a little... unhealthy with some blood at the butt, normal? Feeling bad, not sure what to do. Probably did WAY too much. Other eggs got nothin', been turning periodically. I think I will just bundle the wee chickie up and give love and prayers... Tips, advise?
I promise, next year will be better.... I think the fluctuations really challenged things.
We messed up on our first run and have a staggered clutch. Hen left the nest with her two chicks leaving behind several eggs... which we candled and float tested. Seems like they're ok so made makeshift incubator out of soup pot with lid, desk lamp, thermometer and water spritzer. One egg pipped and stayed with one tiny hole for over 12 hours. We found this thread and zipped open a ring of shell. 3 hours later nothing yet, the membrane had definitely been white and tough-- we spent that 3 hours soaking. Finally, did a little prodding to help "push" the chick out of the membrane hole about half way. It has been now laying this way 7 hours. Just now my 6 year old pulled hte rest of the egg off its backside. It's laying there breathing, moving a bit now and again, eyes still closed, wet (on a wet papertowel, in the warm bator)... it's bottom looks a little... unhealthy with some blood at the butt, normal? Feeling bad, not sure what to do. Probably did WAY too much. Other eggs got nothin', been turning periodically. I think I will just bundle the wee chickie up and give love and prayers... Tips, advise?
I promise, next year will be better.... I think the fluctuations really challenged things.