So I go into the coop on Easter and find an egg that has a live chick in it, no shell, just the membrane holding him in! I carefully opened the membrane a bit so he could breathe and popped him back under mama and left for Easter dinner. It was so tempting to help him all the way....I got back and he was all fluffy and peeping; so far so good. The next morning (Monday) There is another chick the same way so I did the same thing. When I got home the chick was out but dead. The hen got off the nest and I disposed of her 2 remaining sloshy eggs. She is doing fine with the VERY noisy single chick.
So, this morning when I went out there is another hen that has a chick the same way...no shell just the membrane. It was dead. She has 10 more eggs in that nest. What should I do? I have never had hatchings with dry membranes like this. The hens have plenty access to fresh water and it has been raining here the last 2 days! I did take a bit of water on my hands and roll the eggs around in the nest to try to moisten them a bit. Will this help? I dont have an incubator to put the eggs in. Thanks for any thoughts! Terri O in WI
So, this morning when I went out there is another hen that has a chick the same way...no shell just the membrane. It was dead. She has 10 more eggs in that nest. What should I do? I have never had hatchings with dry membranes like this. The hens have plenty access to fresh water and it has been raining here the last 2 days! I did take a bit of water on my hands and roll the eggs around in the nest to try to moisten them a bit. Will this help? I dont have an incubator to put the eggs in. Thanks for any thoughts! Terri O in WI
