My broody hen has multiple eggs shes hatching. Last night made it day 23. 4 have hatched out fine, broody hen likes to break them open once they pip for some reason. Otherwise she takes GREAT care of them once they are out. I guess shes impatient. Now, Last night about 9pm I noticed she was pecking at the air sac side of the egg, when I realized the chick had actually pipped the WRONG side. So I grabbed the egg before she broke vessels and yolk. There is only a small tear to the inner membrane near the yolk sac...so I took a qtip and (I was told you can use Neosporin to make sure it stays moist) put some Neosporin on the membrane just so it wouldn't dry out. I then covered the bottom with a latex glove to make somewhat of a temporary cover to give it time to absorb the rest of that yolk. Now, where the pip is, I went ahead and a gently pulled back a piece of the shell so when the chick was ready it could breathe, the chick pretty soon broke through that membrane. I then brought in a brooder lamp to keep the egg warm.
Well, its now almost 1pm the next day and the chick has been chirping, breathing and I can no longer see as much yolk. At this point its hard to tell if its just the wet waste. I see very tiny thin blood vessels, not as many as last night..very hard to find when looking hard almost. Ive gotten this far and im letting him be...ive also been told once you help it, you have to follow through when the time comes. Anyone have any tips? Patience isn't a problem, Im just not sure what point would be too late. I hate to see the little one die after all this because I left him in too long, he's tough
All I can find is keep the membrane moist and then place back in incubator, in my situation the hen was doing the work. Any advice would be appreciated. Although I know some say its a big no-no, but the hen was trying to get him out but almost broke the sac...I figured at that point either he'd die from bleeding or I can at least give him a chance.
Well, its now almost 1pm the next day and the chick has been chirping, breathing and I can no longer see as much yolk. At this point its hard to tell if its just the wet waste. I see very tiny thin blood vessels, not as many as last night..very hard to find when looking hard almost. Ive gotten this far and im letting him be...ive also been told once you help it, you have to follow through when the time comes. Anyone have any tips? Patience isn't a problem, Im just not sure what point would be too late. I hate to see the little one die after all this because I left him in too long, he's tough
All I can find is keep the membrane moist and then place back in incubator, in my situation the hen was doing the work. Any advice would be appreciated. Although I know some say its a big no-no, but the hen was trying to get him out but almost broke the sac...I figured at that point either he'd die from bleeding or I can at least give him a chance.
