UPDATE - sorry if this isn't well typed, only 2 hrs sleep
Checked at about midnight
Egg B had launched itself out of the half shell but had a bad hernia and was still very attached w/ visable 2 veins w/ red blood & some obvious blood in the membrane in the shell. I knew better than to mess w/ it and just let it be, I keep watch...
Around 1-2 am
Having "hatched" Chick B finally had the stregth to start trying to hold its head up and try to stand, all the thrashing and peeping got
Egg W excited and W got its head , neck & 1 wing out of the membrane but was then completely exhausted, I had to move its upper body back onto wet towel a couple times b/c it was sticking to the burlap which I figured would not help matters at all.
By 4 am
Chick B was walking somewhat (slightly curled toes) still draging an attached shell etc. it got hobbled by this cord & when I unwrapped it the cord went from pink/white back to fresh red blood! not good but it was still a closed system w/ the membrane & didn't keep filling so I let it be for a few min. then I pressed it direct pressure w/out breaking it, I pushed it as close to the eggshell as poss. and held it long enough that the part under my finger tip when clear then I left it still just in case so it couldn't leak out.
At this point Egg W became Chick W by launching itself out of the membrane & off the half shell. No hernia and the cord was clear and broke away quickly but the chick was completely exhausted and I was not very optimistic for it.
4:30 I had to get a couple hrs sleep
8:30 Chick B & Chick W still alive (HURRAY)
B still was trailing the eggshell but the cord was shriveled so I pressed it for a moment then cut it - zero blood : )
W was actually able to sit up and walk now, excellent progress : )
Both are dry but not fluffly - their down looks like stringy hair plastered to them, I guess I will have to wash them, but I'm not going to stress them that way any time soon, they aren't sticking to other things or each other so it isn't a problem.
Egg L -- I tapped and for awhile I heard nothing, was about to give up on it when I heard a flutter, a tapp and a peep <-- note a TAP none of the 3 I helped ever Tapped they could not reach the eggshell w/ their beaks! L can tap, so I think it may be able to pip on its own, I'm hoping so. The first peep from it was at 9pm last night, 12.5 hrs ago now, but it is MaranxMaran dark egg, and I'm just going give it another several hrs before I consider doing a pip for it. I would REALLY like a natural hatch to happen if at all possible!
So about the chicks : )
Chick B --
BlueCM over ? Orp likely or poss. Ameraucana based on egg shell color
Feathers looked black wet, but dry they are 90% a rich SILVER grey so BLUE woohoo there are a few blonde strands on the wing tips and chin, and poss. a few black so maybe actually SPLASH ? Skin is pink.
Also, these eggs were the exact same size, but B is HUGE almost twice as long head to butt, and feet 2x the size of W
Chick W (The Love-child egg)
Mutt parents on both sides
Appears all black , feet have pink toes, skin is pink
Also DH is convinced they are both male, based on Great-grandpa's day 1 sexing method that has something to do w/ if they have a tiny comb looking area, which vanishes in a day or so but eventually returns as a real roo comb, apparently judging this is all relative and based on decades of looking. While pullets of course would be best, LIVE is all I really care about at this time.
I'll try to get some pics. later today...
