Egg I was SURE was dead... isn't. What do I do with the giant hole in the eggshell?!

[Tatuana]

Egg is three days passed due date. I haven't seen any movement in the egg for a week. And I tried, believe me. I was positive the egg was dead. I began an eggtopsy to see what could have gone wrong. Annnnd baby sluggishly moved in the sac. Since I wasn't planning on putting the egg back together I mangled it getting it apart. It's too big for nail polish to cover. What do I do to keep the baby safe?

it's *possible,* but unlikely, that this egg got mixed up with some ones I put in at a different date. They were labeled differently, though fairly similar. If so her due date is actually today. I thought all of the ones due today died, though.


Edit: It's also possible she may be upside down in the egg, not positive. There's a smaller air bubble on the pointed end of the egg, as well as the large air bubble on the bigger side. I can't make out any features, but then I was kinda freaked out and put it away before I harmed it. (I wrapped it in a paper towel that was dipped in distilled water and warmed to incubating temps first. I think I read that's a good idea?)


I'm just not cut out for incubating, I think. I bought $60 worth of eggs. Out of 29 eggs this is the ONLY one who made it beyond day 10. My biggest hatch was 4 eggs out of 12. This is only my fourth time hatching, but I'm not feeling too positive. I think I do more harm than good.

 

[LynnaePB]

The good news is if it is that close to hatching and you didn't break any large blood vessels its chances are still good!

I would treat it like an assist from here on out going from the part where you make a viewing window into the air cell. Here is a great article on assisting, just follow that and you should be alright assuming this little one is strong enough to make it (sometimes they just aren't, if that is the case it very likely would have passed on its own before hatching even had you not started the eggtopsy).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/
One thing to watch out for if you use coconut oil is it can harden the membrane (I don't like using it for long assists, I prefer slightly warm water even though you will have to reapply it fairly frequently. I haven't tried the other things suggested in the article yet like the neosporin so can't comment on them.

I've assisted quite a few times and I am happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability for your specific situation. Good luck with the little one, I hope everything goes well and it is able to hatch!

 

[LynnaePB]

Just saw the edit, you don't want any wet towels touching the egg so I would remove that.

 

[nchls school]

"Tatuana, post: 22156372, member: 530318"]
Egg is three days passed due date. I haven't seen any movement in the egg for a week. And I tried, believe me. I was positive the egg was dead. I began an eggtopsy to see what could have gone wrong. Annnnd baby sluggishly moved in the sac. Since I wasn't planning on putting the egg back together I mangled it getting it apart. It's too big for nail polish to cover. What do I do to keep the baby safe?

it's *possible,* but unlikely, that this egg got mixed up with some ones I put in at a different date. They were labeled differently, though fairly similar. If so her due date is actually today. I thought all of the ones due today died, though. If due today and the chick is unharmed it may survive. If you know someone that lives close to you, ask for help. It's likely the chick will need assistance to hatch. Timing is important when doing assisted hatches. Too soon or too late and the chick dies.


Edit: It's also possible she may be upside down in the egg, not positive. There's a smaller air bubble on the pointed end of the egg, as well as the large air bubble on the bigger side. I can't make out any features, but then I was kinda freaked out and put it away before I harmed it. (I wrapped it in a paper towel that was dipped in distilled water and warmed to incubating temps first. I think I read that's a good idea?)


I'm just not cut out for incubating, I think. I bought $60 worth of eggs. Out of 29 eggs this is the ONLY one who made it beyond day 10. My biggest hatch was 4 eggs out of 12. This is only my fourth time hatching, but I'm not feeling too positive. I think I do more harm than good. Hatching eggs can be frustrating; especially if you are using shipped eggs which are often damaged in transit.
Try again. You might want to buy some eggs locally to practice with. Check the thermometer for accuracy.

 

[Tatuana]

I've managed to assist one before, which was COMPLETELY my fault. It was an easy hatch since he was ready to pop out anyway. His membrain looks kinda dry, is that normal? All wrinkly.

The poor thing does seem pretty sluggish. I'm worried.

I'll remove the paper towel and find my Vaseline and such. The hole is very clear of all the vital parts of the baby, luckily. I'll go read up on assisting.

I don't want to be too late with helping, but I have to run to get my marriage certificate later today, which may take a while. Grrr. Hatch baby, hatch! And then I need to buy another baby to match so she's not lonely.

 

[Lizzy733]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Make sure to read the above so you know when it 'IS' safe to intervene. Betadine without pain reliever can be used to re-moisten the membrane and has the added bonus of being antibacterial and makes the membrane more transparent so you can see what's going on with the blood vessels.
If its 'waaaay' too early - as in no internal pip yet, you can re-seal the egg by boiling a chicken egg shell, which will make it pliable enough to cut to the size of the hole and then varnish it into place over the hole as a makeshift patch.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

You've gotten some excellent advise of this egg. For future hatches read the link below.

I see you're in Utah. As am I! What breeds are you trying to hatch? Are you part of the Facebook group: Utah chicken keepers group? Or Utah Backyard Homesteaders? Great are great sources of local info.

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html

http://extension.msstate.edu/content/trouble-shooting-failures-egg-incubation

 

[LynnaePB]

The membrane sounds pretty normal to me for a chick at this age.

If the baby isn't breathing yet it's normal to see only occasional movement.

 

[Tatuana]

You've gotten some excellent advise of this egg. For future hatches read the link below.

I see you're in Utah. As am I! What breeds are you trying to hatch? Are you part of the Facebook group: Utah chicken keepers group? Or Utah Backyard Homesteaders? Great are great sources of local info.

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html

http://extension.msstate.edu/content/trouble-shooting-failures-egg-incubation

I'm part of the Homesteaders! And backyard chickens. I'm trying to hatch 'funky' chickens. I don't want generic babies. Gimmie some little weirdos! I like to buy mixes so you never know what you get. The problem is I'm in the Orem/Provo area and everyone else isn't. I can't find local eggs to hatch that aren't your generic babies. Once the babies are old enough I rehome them.

The membrane sounds pretty normal to me for a chick at this age.

If the baby isn't breathing yet it's normal to see only occasional movement.

Really? I've had some real kickers before hatching. Maybe they were the odd ones and she's normal.

 

[LynnaePB]

I'm part of the Homesteaders! And backyard chickens. I'm trying to hatch 'funky' chickens. I don't want generic babies. Gimmie some little weirdos! I like to buy mixes so you never know what you get. The problem is I'm in the Orem/Provo area and everyone else isn't. I can't find local eggs to hatch that aren't your generic babies. Once the babies are old enough I rehome them.




Really? I've had some real kickers before hatching. Maybe they were the odd ones and she's normal.

I've had some that move a lot before hatching as well but just as many who don't who are perfect healthy little ones. I very rarely start an assist before they are breathing but the few times I have the little ones were fairly still for the most part with only occasional movement. It could mean there is a problem but I haven't found that to be the case in my assists yet.