Eggtopsy: What happened to my egg? {Graphic Pictures}

[NikkiCole5]

Here is my little guy that developed, pipped and was about to hatch. The little guy was being really loud so I watched it and all of a sudden it just got silent. I didn't think anything of it and then I just had a bad feeling, so I took the egg out of the incubator and tapped on it and still nothing, I peeled a small amount of shell off and kinda touched the chick with a q tip, no movement so I peeled the rest of the shell off and found a dead baby. I think it turned the wrong way and suffocated himself because his head was under his wings on the opposite side of the original pip. Poor baby, I wish I could of saved him.

 

[WalnutHill]

I think you are right, he looked perfect.

 

[fatcatx]

Great reference page - thank you for posting!

 

[WVduckchick]

Here is my little guy that developed, pipped and was about to hatch. The little guy was being really loud so I watched it and all of a sudden it just got silent. I didn't think anything of it and then I just had a bad feeling, so I took the egg out of the incubator and tapped on it and still nothing, I peeled a small amount of shell off and kinda touched the chick with a q tip, no movement so I peeled the rest of the shell off and found a dead baby. I think it turned the wrong way and suffocated himself because his head was under his wings on the opposite side of the original pip. Poor baby, I wish I could of saved him.

Very sad, but thank you for sharing so we can all learn. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[NikkiCole5]

I think you are right, he looked perfect.

I know it was terrible, if it ever happens again I'm gonna check it out instead of waiting

 

[clairemma]

Hi,

I'm pretty much new to hatching and have had my two silkies for a year or so now. I purchased half a dozen brahmas because our mummy silkie is a terrible layer and just wants to brood all the time so was going to keep her for brooding and have brahmas for eggs for eating.

Today is roughly day 21 (hard to know exactly because We didn't lay them) and one chick is fully hatched, fluffed up and tottering around the nesting box. One egg is at the pipping stage and I can see movement inside. One other egg looks a bit worrying but I am unsure what to do. I can clearly see feathers and about half of the shell is gone but there is no movement. As I only discovered the fully hatched chick about 6 hours ago I really don't know when they started pipping. Is this little babe an unfortunate who has suffocated or is he resting? I know it can take up to 24 or more to fully hatch but I don't want to leave a dead chick in the nesting box.

The rest of the eggs are still non productive, no sign of pipping as yet. The weather changed very suddenly last week from really warm 19/20 degrees to a chilly 11 degrees with a random pouring of sleet about a week ago. They are pretty cosy in the house with mummy and short straw but could the sudden change in temperature have killed this wee guy or is he just tired? I really don't know what to do....any advise appreciated!

 

[WVduckchick]

Hi,

I'm pretty much new to hatching and have had my two silkies for a year or so now. I purchased half a dozen brahmas because our mummy silkie is a terrible layer and just wants to brood all the time so was going to keep her for brooding and have brahmas for eggs for eating.

Today is roughly day 21 (hard to know exactly because We didn't lay them) and one chick is fully hatched, fluffed up and tottering around the nesting box. One egg is at the pipping stage and I can see movement inside. One other egg looks a bit worrying but I am unsure what to do. I can clearly see feathers and about half of the shell is gone but there is no movement. As I only discovered the fully hatched chick about 6 hours ago I really don't know when they started pipping. Is this little babe an unfortunate who has suffocated or is he resting? I know it can take up to 24 or more to fully hatch but I don't want to leave a dead chick in the nesting box.

The rest of the eggs are still non productive, no sign of pipping as yet. The weather changed very suddenly last week from really warm 19/20 degrees to a chilly 11 degrees with a random pouring of sleet about a week ago. They are pretty cosy in the house with mummy and short straw but could the sudden change in temperature have killed this wee guy or is he just tired? I really don't know what to do....any advise appreciated!

Hard to guess, but if one is running around, the others should be close behind. Will momma let you get close? Sometimes mommas can be pretty nasty when you try to mess with her babies. Do you mean half the shell is gone, like it started to hatch and just quit? It could be still attached to the shell, and dragging it around and stopping for rests. If momma will let you get close enough, you should be able to determine if its dead. If it is, I would remove it, if she will let you. Hang in there with the other eggs. I assume you are giving Celcius temps? Momma shouldn't have a problem keeping them warm in those temps, but a small heat lamp might be nice if you have one?

 

[clairemma]

yes celcius temps

Unfortunately we don't have an electrical supply to the coop but have decided if it gets cold like last week again, we have an old large cage (was for a rat year ago) all sterilised and prepared in our spare room just in case and we can bring the chicks inside.

one side of the egg has no shell, almost half, and there doesn't appear to be any movement, whereas that other one only has a tiny tiny wee hole and I can see wriggling feet and hear cheeping so that one is def on it's way pretty soon. I can't see feet on the half hatched one, just a bundle of drying out feathers. I notice that mummy has turned it upside down so that the exposed bird is in the straw and the shelled side facing up. She is quite dosile and lets us pick her up etc. I have picked her up twice in the past 24 hours to sneek a peek at progress and she is not happy about it (clucking) but she puts up with it. We call her marge as she groans like marge simpson.

Thanks for getting back to me so quick. I don't want to be too hasty and throw out a babe but at the same time I don't want to compromise the clearly healthy bouncy chick thats wobbling about already with disease/infection. I also don't want to "help it along" as I know this can cause more harm than good if it is still alive.

 

[WVduckchick]

yes celcius temps

Unfortunately we don't have an electrical supply to the coop but have decided if it gets cold like last week again, we have an old large cage (was for a rat year ago) all sterilised and prepared in our spare room just in case and we can bring the chicks inside.

one side of the egg has no shell, almost half, and there doesn't appear to be any movement, whereas that other one only has a tiny tiny wee hole and I can see wriggling feet and hear cheeping so that one is def on it's way pretty soon. I can't see feet on the half hatched one, just a bundle of drying out feathers. I notice that mummy has turned it upside down so that the exposed bird is in the straw and the shelled side facing up. She is quite dosile and lets us pick her up etc. I have picked her up twice in the past 24 hours to sneek a peek at progress and she is not happy about it (clucking) but she puts up with it. We call her marge as she groans like marge simpson.

Thanks for getting back to me so quick. I don't want to be too hasty and throw out a babe but at the same time I don't want to compromise the clearly healthy bouncy chick thats wobbling about already with disease/infection. I also don't want to "help it along" as I know this can cause more harm than good if it is still alive.

Hmmm.... if it is drying, and still half in the shell, I would have to fear it died. I would grab it carefully, so as not to dump it out, but I think that would determine for sure if it is dead or alive. If still alive, just place it back where momma (marge, that's cute!) had it.
The other one with a small hole is fine. It should zip on its own within a few hours (anywhere from 0-18 hours from initial pip is normal) I think most average 8-12 hours or thereabouts.

Glad you have the option of bringing them in if it becomes necessary. Good luck!

 

[clairemma]

Thanks, yes I am going to get hubby to carefully remove shell with me when he gets home as I am a bit jelly bellied to do it on my own! I will keep you all updated with the rest of the brood when they arrive