Don't know egg age in incubator

[theuglychick]

I'm glad the little guy/gal is still hanging in there.

if he or she has an air supply and is still going up until now I'd think his chances are pretty good (unless a vein vein gets nicked, or some other unfortunate circumstance.

I'd just chip a tiny little bit away every few hours. I don't peel back or cut inner membranes unless they've dried to a brown color.

Edited: I'm sure you know what you're doing, I don't want you to think I'm giving you unsolicited advice. I just posted what I'd do for anyone reading who isn't sure or hasn't assisted before.

Keep us updated!!!

 

[Impatient]

I'm sure you know what you're doing, I don't want you to think I'm giving you unsolicited advice. I just posted what I'd do for anyone reading who isn't sure or hasn't assisted before.

In all honesty I've never seen this type of orientation before where the chick didn't DIS before I ever knew there was a problem, they normally fail to pip at all because their head can't reach the air pocket and they can't break the shell because there's not enough room for them to spasm with any force from how their body is pushed up around the neck/head. The fact this chick is still alive is incredibly surprising to me and this is quite the learning experience...I wonder what your take on it's failure to chirp is though? I'm about to try and draw a diagram of what I'm seeing regarding it's position so you all can know what I'm seeing

 

[Micaela.ph15]

Wow this thread is killing me!! lol hopefully that little one makes it out ok. Its crazy how the little one is still alive! Definitely a fighter for sure

 

[theuglychick]

My understanding, which could be wrong, is that although they have air in the egg itself, it's when they pip internally into the air cell that they are able to draw enough breath to be able to chirp.

My thinking is that since it didn't pip into the aircell internally that he hasn't been able to draw a good enough breath to do so. Or perhaps the orientation isn't letting him expand his chest/lungs enough. On that line of thinking... I think the mechanical action of breathing and struggling to break free is what prompts the yolk sac to draw in so I'd be doubly cautious in ensuring it is in fact drawn.

Can you get pics? This is the first I've heard of a live chick in this position as well! I'd love to see the process and progress!!!

 

[TattooedChicks]

On the edge of my seat! Good luck!

 

[Impatient]

I'll try to take pics when I continue the assist next, BUT WE HAVE CHIRPING!!! IM SO HAPPY!!! Puncturing the membrane seems to have been the right move! Chick is becoming active again, has actually changed orientation though now that it's not vacuum sealed by the membrane. Still not anywhere close to be being in the right position, but it means it's no longer stuck, so there's that

 

[theuglychick]

I'll try to take pics when I continue the assist next, BUT WE HAVE CHIRPING!!! IM SO HAPPY!!! Puncturing the membrane seems to have been the right move! Chick is becoming active again, has actually changed orientation though now that it's not vacuum sealed by the membrane. Still not anywhere close to be being in the right position, but it means it's no longer stuck, so there's that

Yay! Yay! Yay!

 

[Impatient]

Okay so I expanded the hole a little to try to get a pic and stretched the membrane a tad to get the chicks beak through it. Now as I mentioned, the chick has shifted since I initially punctured the membrane (2hr ago) so now it resembles more of a breach. Only got one pic since my phone died during trying to get more.
1. Trying to point to the beak
2. The spine of the chick showing how malpositioned it is. While hard to tell due the the angle, it's back is almost right at the top of the hole.

Chick is now actively attempting to stretch/tear the membrane, breathing well and chirping rather loudly, all which I hope point to a viable hatching. In order to be able to monitor better, I've placed a damp paper towel directly under the egg instead of covering the hole and bumped humidity to 85%. I don't know if anyone else has done this, but to moisten the membrane I used a TINY bit of Aquaphor (non-petroleum moisturizer) on a q-tip. Seems to have worked well and membrane hasn't dried out.

 

[Impatient]

Update: since taking that photo, some of the major veins have started going pink instead of red. Amazing news since it means the chick is absorbing it's outside blood flows and should mean yolk absorption is taking place as well. I will not be assisting any further until it becomes necessary such as the chick getting stuck again or the membrane begins to dry out. I've removed most of the egg cap while keeping the membrane intact and the chick is breathing well so I'm hoping it can finish on its own when it's ready.

 

[bobbi-j]