Eggtopsy Gone Wrong!

[jayytee17]

Ok y'all, I'm at a complete loss!! I had seven eggs in my Brower Top Hatch Incubator. Two hatched, one died after pipping, and I left the other four in the incubator just to be safe until today which is day 28.

The first three I opened had two full grown chicks that did not pip (I am SO sad!) and one that stopped developing around what looks like the second week. But the last one I opened has a chick in it THAT IS STILL ALIVE. IT IS MOVING.

What do I do!? I want to help it but I'm at a total loss. I broke the membrane upon opening the end of the shell where the air sac is anc I am afraid there is no hope for the little guy. I can't get a very good look because I'm afraid to spill anything out or hit a vein and cause bleeding. Any suggestions!? Here is a picture of what it looks like!

 

[25Acres]

You need to keep the membrane moist or the chick will have no chance getting out on its own. You can increase humidity levels and a damp paper towel draped over the membrane. If the membrane looks bloody, you just have to wait. Is there any chick movement? To have them not hatch this far into incubation is odd, typically you can give up hope around day 25. Sadly, this may be a lost cause but all you can do is try. Nature has a way of weeding out the week ones. If it comes down to it, you can try releasing the chick part way...I wish you luck.

 

[jayytee17]

Yes I can see it moving like it's breathing, I'll try to put a paper towel over it so keep it damp! I'll keep you updated! Thank you!

 

[Sneebsey]

I can see a lot of blood in the membrane there which makes me concerned that even though the chick is currently alive, it is still not ready to hatch. On day 28, if these are chicken eggs, that is very, very late, and I hope you won't get your hopes too high on this one, just work slowly, keep the humidity high, and help a little at a time. I would check the temperature and humidity levels in your incubator with a thermometer, hygrometer, or probes before trying another hatch, as it sounds like something is delaying the chicks development. Sorry about your poor hatch.

 

[casportpony]

I found this article by @Pyxis to be helpful:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[jayytee17]

That link was very helpful, thank you!!

I was worried about all the blood too, it looks like the chick hasn't absorbed anything yet! It's crazy to me that it's this late in the game and the little guy is still kickin but hasn't hatched! Hopefully I can try to save it, I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst! I'll post updates throughout, thanks guys!

 

[rebrascora]

It looks like it might be a duck egg to me..... is there any possibility it could be? Do you have any ducks or were these bought hatching eggs.
If it was a chicken egg I would have expected the blood supply to have shrunk back by now, but I am no expert on incubator hatching.

 

[jayytee17]

I got them from a friend who has ducks and chickens (in separate enclosures) but when she gave me the eggs they were all in a carton and there were some duck eggs that were meant for eating but I could have missed one when I separated them! If so I know ducks take longer to incubate so I probably made it worse by opening the shell =(

 

[Sneebsey]

If it is a duckling, then as it's day 28, which is the day ducklings normally hatch, it may still be OK; it may not be quite ready, but at least it's fully formed. Just try and keep the humidity good and high and avoid interfering with the membrane until everything is all absorbed. Because you entered through the air-cell, it is likely the duckling itself is undamaged and may hatch perfectly well. Fingers crossed for success.

 

[casportpony]

I got them from a friend who has ducks and chickens

What kind of ducks? Any Muscovy?