Ok so after many failed attempts at hatching I got one that has piped a huge hole. It looked a bit shrink wrapped though so I made sure I could see its beak and nose and added 2 drops of water. I have a question though. I am afraid that it will not be able to zip the rest of the shell as its beak is already out for the most part. Will the baby tuck back in and finish the job or will I have to help it? Also I listened to the other eggs that were supposed to come today and nothing. I did a quick candle on them before lockdown and there was no movement and one was kinda sloshy, but trying to remain optomistic I left them. Well I am glad I took them out today, all 3 chicks were dead 2 of the eggs had fully formed chicks in them a white and a black (mystery eggs I dont know who laid them only who dad is) and the sloshy one leaked like a pussy pink fluid. I am thinking an infection? What do you think. And if it was an infection will it affect my chick that is hatching right now? There was no leakage of the slosy egg or the dead chicks, but can something be in the air and if so how would I protect my hatching chick that is in the very same incubator. I am so stressed about this ONE chick. I would be happy if I could get at least ONE, LIVE, HEALTHY baby this year.
If the membrane around the chick looks white, it may be shrink-wrapped and may need your help. Otherwise, give the baby time. It can take several hours to hatch completely. If the membrane is sticky, the chick may not be able to turn around in the shell so it can zip. If you decide to assist the hatch, be very careful of the vessels. A chick can bleed to death from jut a few drops of blood. If you cause any bleeding, stop immediately and replace the egg in the incubator. Corn starch can be used to stop bleeding if it's too much. Maintain your humidity during the hatch at 65-75%. Some folks choose to not assist. I can't help myself and have assisted several times with only good results. Use common sense and trust your intuition all while being patient. Good Luck!
Right now I have it in the incubator trying to do its own thing I think the chick started it all wrong. Here is a pic, this is as far as it has gotten and now it seems to be gasping for air (I may be and hope I am wrong) it lays there and then quickly open and closes its beak. I hope it is OK and I am willing to help if I need to any ideas on weather or not I should intervene? Please let me know quickly so I can help if I need to : )
It's hard to tell from your pic, but the membrane sure looks white. I would start helping a little at a time and if you see any bleeding, stop for a while. I just can't sit back and watch chicks die. I have helped several with good results. Just go slow and watch for bleeding.
it died....I don't understand it, I moistened its membrane watching that it did not inhale any and left it alone. One minute it was fine the next dead......forget it I am gonna let the chickens do it. I figure I will let them get to like day 19 or 20 then take them out of the coop and put them in the bator so the chickens don't accidently squash them. Or I can take the broody and the eggs and seperate them from the rest of the chickens, what do you all think? It would have been a cute black silkie too
