Need hatching advice *UPDATE*

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chickenmomma16

chickenmomma16

Crowing
13 Years
Jul 16, 2012
1,025
808
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Buckley, Washington
I have a broody sitting on some eggs that have started hatching. So exciting! I noticed she pooed in the box so I lifted her rear and cleaned her up and noticed one egg that still has the membrane on but a lot of shell missing. I have had 3 hatch so far and the all had textbook hatchings.

Should I leave this chick alone and let nature take its course or try and assist it? I saw it moving under the membrane.
 
It hasn't been too long, maybe a couple hours? It doesn't look shrink wrapped yet, but its not super loose either. I hate to mess with the broody but I could go out and snap a quick pic?

If I need to assist I will but this is only the second time I have hatched chicks (used a broody last time too). So any suggestions or helpful links to give tips on assisting chicks would be much appreciated.


Edited to add: Maybe a couple hours has been too long???
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Help!?
 
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I did not mess with the chick at all in hopes he would come through on his own but upon check this am I don't think it will make it with out help...

I pulled it out from under momma hen snapped a quick pick and did an examination and I found the chick has rapid breathing and the membrane is super dry even hard in places. He did pip and is breathing but his condition has deteriorated. I think it was no fault of his own and the other chicks or mom accidentally chipped away the shell too early my moving around.

What should I do??? I will have a pic in a moment...
 
It is cold outside and I don't have an incubator to put him in... Tell me if this sounds like a decent plan...

Get my bathroom warm with a heater
Sterilize my dull tweezers
Put a warm damp towel in the sink and slowly re hydrate the membrane and start peeling away. Slowly.


What is the yellow on the membrane? I hope nothing else is wrong... This is making me nervous!
 
Sounds good. If you see he's still not absorbed everything, I'd keep him wrapped in damp, warm towel and give him more time. I just don't think he could get out of that on his own. I think the yellow is just from the membrane being dried out to much. If he makes it and is strong enough you can try and sneak him back under the hen. I've done that before and it's worked out fine.
 
I've had a chick that was shrink wrapped like that, warm wet towel and tweezers is what worked. I had to get the shell membrane quite wet but it did work and the chick survived.
I hope you are successful. good luck
 
ya.gif
She's out!!! Man that chick was more than ready to get out of that egg! As soon as the membrane was moist and I uncovered her head she kicked that thing off lickity split. This was a little spit fire of a chick, chirping so loud and before she was dry I had to put her back with the others because she was jumping all over the sink...

And by looking at the wing tips (don't know how accurate feather sexing is) I think its a pullet!
yesss.gif
You cant see from the pictures but the toes may be a bit curled but I will check later after shes all dry and moving around.


Oh! I took pictures... :)

Uncovered head and looks as though it was in the right position



OUT!!!



Getting dry and resting





These chicks are special because I just lost my rooster to a neighbor dog only days after I set these eggs. He was the rooster in my avatar.


Edited to add that I am SO SO SO increadibly thankfull that I read this artical on assisted hatching last night in case I did have to assist this chick. I had all this info running through my brain as I was doing this...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching



Now to finish my coffee...
caf.gif
 
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