Emergency :-(

[suzc]

3 of 4 eggs hatched and 3 chicks now in the brooder I had to assist the 3rd chick as it was more than 24 hours from pip with no zip but it all went well - chick number 4 I also decided to assist as it is now past day 23 and I could see no airspace on candle ing but could hear scratching - mistake - when I piped the egg I found his beak and he is alive, waited for about 8 hours and no zip and he was not chirping so I zipped for him - removed a cap but left the inner membrane intact except for a hole over the beak - no bleeding but lots of large blood vessels - I obviously assisted too soon :-(, anyway I have been keeping the membrane moist and the blood vessels have mostly been absorbed - chick breathing fine but no chirping - what should I do now ?

I regret assisting number 4 but he was so far behind the others and what's done is done - I have to deal with where I am now

 

[Eggcessive]

Maybe someone with more advice can help, but whenever I have assisted in hatching chicks, I have always ended up with chicks that die or I have had to cull because of brain damage or not being able to stand. Hopefully, keeping it moist, it will go ahead and hatch. Good luck.

 

[Razadia]

If there's no bleeding there's no point in regretting it yet. Keep a warm, moist paper towel around the egg (but remember to give it room to breath) and may hatch on it's own. It sounds like this egg was in a spot that had a lower temp than the rest. Take a deep breath and leave it alone. Check on it every half hour or so and sit on your hands.

 

[suzc]

Thanks guys - that's pretty much what I am doing at the moment - how long do you think it will take for all the blood vessels and yolk to be absorbed at this point ?

 

[Razadia]

It may take a few hours, but it will let you know when it's time to hatch.

 

[suzc]

He is out !! - had to be helped all the way - bled very slightly as he came out of the shell but stopped immediately - I'll leave him in the incubator until tomorrow to make sure he gets a rest from the other 3 who sound like a heard of chirping elephants running around the brooder - 4 out of 4 that went into lockdown - I have learned to be more patient next time - a common fault with first timers I believe

Thanks for all the advice

 

[Razadia]

Congrats on the new chicky!

 

[suzc]

Well he made it through the night and is now trying to wobble about in the incubator and has started to chirp - he does seem to have a rather swollen bottom which is a little dark in colour but there is nothing external so I'm hoping it is normal - taking a while to fluff up but he needs to be in the incubator another 12 hours so that should give time.

 

[suzc]

Update - all 4 chicks are healthy, eating and drinking and growing first feathers on their wings already - only 3/4 days old

 

[suzc]

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]https://www.dropbox.com/s/bqxno2i7375rgnj/2013-06-09 05.01.44.mov this is a video of my first egg hatching