Day 23, thought this unhatched chick was dead -

[Lalegid]

So I saw no signs of life from an unhatched egg (day 23), so I assumed it was dead. I cracked the egg open at the air sack end (just in case it wasn't dead) and it is alive and breathing in there! I've only broken the shell, membrane is still intact, but there is a small spot of blood on the membrane from where I touched it with the tweezers. I know that it's not ready to hatch, so will it be ok left in the incubator despite the fact that I've removed the shell from the air sack end? How do I go about not killing this chick?

 

[chooks4life]

So I saw no signs of life from an unhatched egg (day 23), so I assumed it was dead. I cracked the egg open at the air sack end (just in case it wasn't dead) and it is alive and breathing in there! I've only broken the shell, membrane is still intact, but there is a small spot of blood on the membrane from where I touched it with the tweezers. I know that it's not ready to hatch, so will it be ok left in the incubator despite the fact that I've removed the shell from the air sack end? How do I go about not killing this chick?

Are you sure it hadn't already pecked into the air bubble? Sounds to me like you caught this little nugget right in the midst of getting ready to hatch.

I'd make sure its beak is clear of membrane, so none can get shrinkwrapped onto its nostrils and mouth, and let it sit in the incubator. Chances are it will need help to hatch later, probably becoming shrink wrapped anyway, but it's best you give it time to absorb its yolk and blood supply from the membranes first.

Some chicks can take several days longer to hatch than others due to various factors from genetic to dietary (in the mother especially, obviously) to temperature fluctuations that put them back into a sort of dormant phase instead of developing.

Best wishes.

 

[Sustained]

So I saw no signs of life from an unhatched egg (day 23), so I assumed it was dead. I cracked the egg open at the air sack end (just in case it wasn't dead) and it is alive and breathing in there! I've only broken the shell, membrane is still intact, but there is a small spot of blood on the membrane from where I touched it with the tweezers. I know that it's not ready to hatch, so will it be ok left in the incubator despite the fact that I've removed the shell from the air sack end? How do I go about not killing this chick?

I did something similar the a few days ago. I was pretty startled when I opened it and something started peeping at me! The advice I was given is to set the egg on a damp paper towel back in the incubator and up the humidity to 70-80%. If you have bacitrin you can use it to lube the membrane that's exposed. Make sure the little things airways are clear like the other poster said so nothing plugs them. Then wait and watch. I didn't have bacitrin so I didn't use it but I've read that it's very helpful. Mine hatched all on it's own.

 

[Gingersnap722]

Awww! I'm collecting eggs from my girls now to put in my new incubator for the very first time. I'm excited and nervous. This is good info to know just in case!

 

[Lalegid]

Thank you, humidity is up and I will just wait and see.

 

[goodb]

good luck with this. I think I tossed viable chicks earlier this year when I thought they quit just before hatch. Further research shows they could have gone to day 25 or longer.

 

[Sustained]

Awww! I'm collecting eggs from my girls now to put in my new incubator for the very first time. I'm excited and nervous. This is good info to know just in case!

Congrats on your first incubation! I think everyone should experience it at least once

Thank you, humidity is up and I will just wait and see.

Keep us posted! Praying you have a good outcome

good luck with this. I think I tossed viable chicks earlier this year when I thought they quit just before hatch. Further research shows they could have gone to day 25 or longer.

 

[Lalegid]

Little chick is still alive, I managed to find its beak and peel the membrane away from there so that it can breathe. My plan is to now leave it for 12 hours (it's 8pm here) and see how it's looking in the morning. I know it needs to absorb the yolk, there is blood in the membranes too. I've taken a picture, it's not easy to make out but the chicks beak is there, there wasn't any blood from the membranes there around its face but further down there have been some spots.

 

[Lalegid]

good luck with this. I think I tossed viable chicks earlier this year when I thought they quit just before hatch. Further research shows they could have gone to day 25 or longer.

Oh no this chick hatching sure is stressful.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Oh no this chick hatching sure is stressful.

That's an understatement. lol