Do I intervene... I know, this question is asked a million times...

[jophoto]

One of the eggs I have - well, the chick zipped yesterday. Before it zipped, I could see a little normal-looking beak poking out.

Now, 14 hours later, it's still the same way it was 14 hours ago. Part of the shell is "hinged" still, not totally zipped, but should be able to just break free. Chick inside looks crammed sideways or something. Frankly, I can't tell what part of the chick is up. It moves, but can't get out. Something about it doesn't look normal - could it be deformed maybe?

Should I attempt to shove something down in the vent hole and pull the top off? I'm kinda scared... I don't want to see a deformed chick (call me a wimp, I know...) but it is still alive after 14 hours! It almost looks like the shell is stuck to it - it looks like there is no room in the egg anymore, but it looked like there was room when it originally started to zip. The bottom of the egg (pointy side) looks like it is wet... like something inside soaked it... what does that mean? The humidity has been between 65 and 70% (70 after the other 9 came out and warmed it up even more). Something just doesn't look right at all.

 

[The Chicken People]

Sit on your hands and let the hatch happen! Its probably just resting up for the rest of the push!

 

[jophoto]

It was shrink wrapped! I couldn't help myself, I took it out. It had been struggling for 14 hours. My humidity has been crazy up, so I had noticed it was lying on a bottom vent for many hours, so that may have been what shrink wrapped it. I sprayed warm water in the 'bator and reached in and grabbed the little guy. I had warm water dripping from the sink, and worked on him... I had to even separate his wing from his face - that's how bad it was... oh, it was so gross, but he's okay so far....

 

[jophoto]

But don't kill me for doing that, please!

My gut told me to do it... I'm keeping a close eye on the other 4 eggs that haven't hatched yet... 3 don't look like they are going to do anything, but who knows...

 

[nivtup]

You did right for it.

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

Good job, Jophoto. I had one like that too yesterday. Seems like after they open up a good sized hole and sit for a while, no matter how good my humidity is, they wrap. Glad your baby is ok.

 

[The Chicken People]

I am glad you saved it! I saved one once but I have also lost one as well!