SnackMeat
Songster
- Jun 14, 2025
- 479
- 640
- 171
So if it is stuck, it would probably be best to take inside because the membrane is likely dried to its feathers and keeping it from having full range of movement.
You can slowly dab at the edges. When I've had eggs like this, and everyone else has hatched and dabbing doesn't seem to do it, I put the edges of the egg under the sink faucet under warm but not hot water. Then I support the head (as that has been out and the egg sort of stuck to them) and run it under the edges, keeping the head and neck out of the water.
Then slightly tilting to allow any water to pool out of the egg and put back in the incubator.
If you don't have an incubator you will want a very warm place as once the egg is open they can't really be 99.5* (judging by a laser thermometer. I think they're normally around 96* despite the incubator being the same temp) and being wet, it's worse. They have to get back into the incubator quickly.
If you have to use the brooding hen, and you know she is going to come back and it is hot outside, I would try bringing a cup of hot water (assuming it cools down slightly walking outside and getting to chick) and then doing the above.
But that's if the other chicks have all hatched and it's most likely mature and ready but simply stuck.
Since there's veins, it could be stuck but need more time, so I would stick with trying to mist or use a dropper to wet the edges and leave it alone til tomorrow. But probably by the day after do the sink or water thing.
Also if you have some save a chick or similar electrolyte solution, you can use a dropper and give some to the chick. Be careful of their nostrils.
You can slowly dab at the edges. When I've had eggs like this, and everyone else has hatched and dabbing doesn't seem to do it, I put the edges of the egg under the sink faucet under warm but not hot water. Then I support the head (as that has been out and the egg sort of stuck to them) and run it under the edges, keeping the head and neck out of the water.
Then slightly tilting to allow any water to pool out of the egg and put back in the incubator.
If you don't have an incubator you will want a very warm place as once the egg is open they can't really be 99.5* (judging by a laser thermometer. I think they're normally around 96* despite the incubator being the same temp) and being wet, it's worse. They have to get back into the incubator quickly.
If you have to use the brooding hen, and you know she is going to come back and it is hot outside, I would try bringing a cup of hot water (assuming it cools down slightly walking outside and getting to chick) and then doing the above.
But that's if the other chicks have all hatched and it's most likely mature and ready but simply stuck.
Since there's veins, it could be stuck but need more time, so I would stick with trying to mist or use a dropper to wet the edges and leave it alone til tomorrow. But probably by the day after do the sink or water thing.
Also if you have some save a chick or similar electrolyte solution, you can use a dropper and give some to the chick. Be careful of their nostrils.
