I was candling eggs that were due to hatch under a broodie and accidently cracked one that had just barely pipped. I couldn't put it under her like that, as it was partly smashed, so I took it home and really slowly eased it out of the shell. It didn't bleed, so i kept going really slowly and managed to get it out without causing a bleed. The yolk was almost absorbed, but the chick was really weak. I put it in a paper towel and set it under a light to warm and dry off, and got side tracked washing some dishes and forgot about it. Crum! I ran back to check on it and it was over heated and almost lifeless... I felt so bad, I blew on it gently to lower its body temp as quick as I could, and it started to peep a tiny bit, but was totally limp. I put it in the brooder box and it just scrambled its legs, stretching them out in front of its head, flipping on its back every few mintes and just lying there. Well, if I could have put it back in the shell, I would have, but that was out of the question, so I went and got an old sock out of the rag bag and cut the toe off of it and snapped a dog leash to it and hung it from some wire mesh laid across the top of the brooder box. It was snug and happy and I could shift it closer or farther from the light really easy, and flip it around to the other side, just by turning the leash over where it hung over the side. It scrambled and was really unhappy lying loose in the box, but when I put it in the sock and put it on the ground, it was unhappy and kept struggling every time it made contact with the floor. As soon as I put it in the pouch and hung it up in a nice comfort zone, heat wise, it went to sleep and this morning it "hatched" itself by tumbling out of the sock and was able to waddle around and stay upright, and get itself back upright if it tumbled to its side or back. It is acting mostly normal right now... just wanted to share my innovation and experience in case it might save one chick some day. Preemies don't like to lie on the floor. I think it is too hard for them. Anyhow, here's a picture of the sock toe sling... don't laugh...
