My last hatch 3 weeks ago had 5 or 6 eggs that had pipped but never zipped.
Upon investigation while cleaning out the bator for another load I saw 3 or 4 were still alive. It had been so long since they pipped that the membrane had dried out and they were shrink wrapped. I unzipped them, moistened the membrane and put the eggs back in the bator. When they finally kicked out of the shell hours later they were underdeveloped with large yolksacks, like the one in the pictures. I just left them alone and 2 died and 2 finished absorbing the yolk and became active.
They were about 3 days late and too small & weak to put in the outdoor brooder with the rest of the chicks so I put them in a small "special needs" cardboard brooder box.
I don't remember exactly because I hatch so many birds but I do know that after a week I put the little yellow chick and maybe the black one in the outside brooder with the rest and they are still alive today.
I consider them VERY lucky chicks because most problem hatchers that I help do not survive.
