EMERGENCY: Hen's hatching chick, shell crunched

[hokankai]

I went to check on my hen who is hatching chicks and one of them is pipped, but the shell got crushed so one side of the chick is exposed but the yolk sac is not fully absorbed. WHAT DO I DO?! I have no incubator set up.

I put it back under mama, right under her breast because I didn't want it to dry out and there were still blood vessels in the membrane.

Anything I should do?

 

[Habibs Hens]

all you can do is pray and leave it


if possible when momma gets up spritz it with water to keep membraine wet

 

[hokankai]

I can spritz it. I'm hoping it absorbs the yolk quickly and is able to complete its hatch. I'm worried though because there was a dead headless chick in there like she had killed one....but we'll see what happens :|

 

[tdhenson86]

I've had that happen before too. Unfortunately, none of the chicks that this happened to survived in my experience. I really hope yours makes it! Keep us posted.

 

[hokankai]

Just as an update...it made it! I went to check on it this morning and although the membrane had dried and the chick was suck in the membrane, it had absorbed the yolk and I was able to bring it inside and peel off the membrane with the help of some warm water. Another chick got the shell smashed too, but I helped that one out and now all is well!

Here she is (she's a sex-link) with her two sisters

 

[redmouse]

Aww I'm so pleased it all worked out! One of my mama hens has been doing exactly the same thing, crushing the shells. I've lost 5 babies at point of hatch, another five at various stages on incubation, and helped out all but three of the others. She's a new mum, never hatched before so I wonder if that's got something to do with it. She's a big girl and hasn't got the hang of not treading all over her eggs!


Well done, they are beautiful babies you have there!

 

[tdhenson86]

YAY!!!! I'm so glad they made it!!! They all look healthy to me.