Coturnix chick stuck - HELP PLEASE!! **UPDATE** Got him/her out!

[quiltnchik]

I wrote last night about the chick pipping toward the wrong end of the egg. Well, I see its little beak and it's trying with all its might to get out, but I think it's getting tired now. Is there some way I can help without killing it? It's been at least 20 hours since it first pipped the side of the egg.... I have other eggs pipped too, and I'm afraid removing that baby in its egg will drop my humidity and kill the others that are pipped...HELP!!

ETA: I got the baby out and it is resting in the 'bator for now. I'm going to have to make some booties, though, 'cause s/he has curled toes. I also had another egg that was pipped forever, but the baby was dead. It looked like it had pipped and then died (nothing had started absorbing). I think that one was a Tuxedo

There are 2 eggs left but no signs of pips, so I'm pretty sure they're duds. I'll leave them another day or 2 and then pull them. All in all, not a bad hatch for the first time hatching Coturnix (8/12 or 67%), so now I'm ready for more!

 

[quail newbie]

I don't know alot about this at all but when ours hatched the ones that opened the eggs in a circle on the large end, like a can opener were healthy but the ones that opened or pecked out the narrow end of the egg were sick or deformed. there was one that was stuck in the shell for the whole day and I ended up taking him out and peeling the shell away. He's fine now but a bit suicidal...maybe he was hatched with a death wish

. I'd say go with your gut but wait for someone who knows what they're talking about first

 

[quiltnchik]

I'm just so worried about him/her. The poor baby is cutting out the shell on the side, rather than on the end where s/he should be, but is not making much progress

 

[shelleyd2008]

Glad to hear that you got the baby out. Leave the baby in the bator for a few days with food and water, if you can. The wire will straighten the baby's toes out.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Thanks! Should I just put food and water in there and leave them all for a few days? I'm in no rush to get this 'bator empty (won't need it 'til I get more eggs this weekend), so if that will work, I'll just leave them and move them over to the brooder this weekend.

 

[shelleyd2008]

You can, but that will make your incubator very messy! I would just leave that one, with another one or two as buddies. Just make sure the baby is on the wire, not on shelf liner or whatever. If you have shavings in your brooder, this can also make its feet straighten out, but the wire works better. If they have trouble hatching it can make their toes curl like that.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Ah well, I now have them all on wire in the 'bator, but I'll move them all into the brooder in a few days and clean up the 'bator real well (guess I should have waited for your reply, huh?)

I was really worried about that little one at first, but it's doing great now. The toes are actually getting better already and it's much stronger than it was. They've all started eating and drinking on their own, so I'm hoping they all do well in the long run. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[calgal98]

I just had my first hatch as well. Those that hatched the first two days seemed to do better than those that hatched later. It may be a factor of covey dynamics, with the small ones getting the bottom of the heap, so to speak. I've lost several of the smallest ones, and most of the small ones hatched late. Coincidence or survival of the most fit? I don't know, but it certainly begs the question.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
So do you think there's still hope for the 3 remaining eggs? I still have them in the 'bator (they've been kicked all over the place by the others), but I'm not seeing any signs of pips.

 

[quailmaster]

Ya some of my quail have had curled toes, why does that happen?
Some of my baby bobs have die becuse of the curled toes.