Can a little chick get out of a big egg?

[mlbuttercup]

My Silkie hen laid an egg fertilized by a little Serama rooster. The eggshell itself is rather large but the chick inside appears tiny. It is still alive and pipped internally but going on day 25. I'm starting to wonder if it's just too little to brace itself inside such a big egg and peck it's way out. Is this a known problem or should that make no difference?

 

[mlbuttercup]

So here we are...day 25 and the little chick is still just sitting in the egg. She pipped internally somewhere late day 23 or early day 24. Last night, since there was no progress, we opened a small hole for her to breath. That's all so far. Just a small hole where we can see her beak. She makes no effort to get out. Just sits there breathing. I really don't know if I should just wait or do more. Would someone with experience give me some advice. This is my daughters chick and she just left for school. I should mention this was from a batch of refrigerated eggs and the only one to make it. She seems to be developing slowly but made it this far.

 

[thechickgal]

It sounds like she needs some assistance getting out. If she is just sitting there then that could mean she doesn't have enough energy to get out on her own.

 

[FlyWheel]

Remember, until it gets out the only thing a chick has to live on is what was in the yolk sac, and that rarely last more than a few days after a normal hatching. So although chicky can breath he is still starving!

 

[seramamama34]

If its been more than 24hrs since external pip it would be ok to help it out. Start by peeling the outer shell first. Slowly peel the membrane. Make sure there is NO blood. If none do one other area and if none keep going till there is enough opening the baby can push itself out. Put back in the bator to let it remove it self the rest of the way.

 

[sara1226]

That is very interesting! I have a Silkie that lays big eggs. Please post an update, I sure hope the little guy (or girl) survives!

 

[mlbuttercup]

Okay, so we've worked on the shell a few times but the little chick is still just sitting there. She breathes and makes a few really quiet peeps. That's about it. No attempts at all to get out. I guess the refrigeration before putting it in the incubator really affected it. Even though she is so late at hatching there are still veins that bleed when we try to do anything. I'm guessing there is still yolk too as she isn't moving around. She is still hanging on so there is still hope.

 

[mlbuttercup]

Sadly our little chick passed. She never made it out of the egg because the veins in the membrane never dried. I was really starting to think she would pull through. Hopefully the eggs our Silkie is sitting on will have better luck.