Well, we inspected our side pip. He'd been in the same position since yesterday morning but managed to make the pip a little bigger. The membrane was turning black. I couldn't stand it.
I helped him hatch.
And I'm very glad I did. His leg was twisted all the way over his head in a very unnatural position. He wasn't able to turn himself around in the sell.
There was zero bleeding from the membrane, but I did find something like looked like dried/cooked yolk stuck to the shell/membrane. He bled a little from his belly button, but that stopped on its own quickly.
Now he's recovering in the incubator and drying. I'll leave him in there overnight to finish fluffing and maybe encourage the final egg to pip (float test tomorrow if no activity by morning). He's peeping and falling everywhere.
That's a good sign!
I'm a little worried about his leg. It was sticking out at a weird angle, due to the position in the egg... I'm hoping it will correct itself by morning.
This is a prime example of weak genetics... a chick that wouldn't have hatched and maybe shouldn't have, as cruel as that is to say. My soft heart (and some prompting from a pacing husband) led me to intervene.
I hope it turns out for the best.
MrsB
The good news is that he seems to be thriving, already growing. I just wish he had a friend!!
That's a good sign!
