Emergency! Should I assist or leave alone?

[KellyDel]

I had 10 eggs under a broody hen. She crushed 3 fertilized and 2 non fertilized along the way, so 5 remained. I let her go to day 25 and no signs of pipping so I decided to throw in the towel. We removed all the eggs and my daughter wanted to investigate them, only to crack one and find that it's alive! Tried giving it back to the hen but she started pecking at it so I rushed it into the incubator. There is a crack w a bit of blood (not too much) and a large portion of shell is gone, white membrane exposed. It's been in the incubator and moving for about 12 hours now. I have the humidity up high at around 78%. My question is should I let it be or try to assist hatching? It hadn't externally pipped yet so I don't know if she's ready to hatch, however I'm afraid of shrink wrap with being so exposed . I appreciate any advice!

 

[NatJ]

Have you read this article yet?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

It has a lot of good information, and might be useful while you're waiting for someone with more specific knowledge to respond. (I don't know much about assisting an egg to hatch, but that article is widely recommended on this forum by the people who do know!)

 

[natejreed]

I had 10 eggs under a broody hen. She crushed 3 fertilized and 2 non fertilized along the way, so 5 remained. I let her go to day 25 and no signs of pipping so I decided to throw in the towel. We removed all the eggs and my daughter wanted to investigate them, only to crack one and find that it's alive! Tried giving it back to the hen but she started pecking at it so I rushed it into the incubator. There is a crack w a bit of blood (not too much) and a large portion of shell is gone, white membrane exposed. It's been in the incubator and moving for about 12 hours now. I have the humidity up high at around 78%. My question is should I let it be or try to assist hatching? It hadn't externally pipped yet so I don't know if she's ready to hatch, however I'm afraid of shrink wrap with being so exposed . I appreciate any advice!

I had a similar experience with my first hatch just a few days ago. Noted a lack of movement on day 21 when the egg had been wiggling a lot just 12 hours before. Thought the chick had died so decided to investigate. As soon as I made the first gentle crack I heard a peep so I put it back in the incubator and upped the humidity. 12 hours later and no pip so I gently removed some of the cracked shell and could see the chick wiggling against the membrane without any propress. There were a couple of blood spots that I promptly cleaned up with a q tip and some hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit overnight and I noticed the membrane starting to shrink back. Had to be at work and felt like the chick wouldn't make it all day long with shrink wrap already starting. The bloody spots had dried up so it was relatively safe to make some small incisions where the membrane had already broken and start gently peeling away. Managed to get that half of the shell completely opened and I left the chick (still alive) to do the rest. It gradually made its way out and successfully made it to the brooder. Now on day 2 post hatch and the chick is eating and drinking.

I was worried that with so much intervention it wouldn't make it. Happy that it has defied the odds so far!

 

[natejreed]