Hatching chick in distress

[minikeeper1143]

Yesterday was day 21. Humidity has been at 70% but have had problem with two chicks stuck in shell and two, one zipped and one pipped hve apparently died in the shell. I have a welsummer trying to hatch now. Large hole but not really zipped, not really fighting to get out of egg and now I see a little blood at edge of membrane. The other chicks are pecking it and it is very vocal.

Why the blood?? What should I do? I am temped to remove the dry chicks but told not to open incubator

Thanks for any advice.

 

[sshannon024]

I am by no means an expert, just recently started hatching eggs myself. I would leave the chicks in there for now, because it seems to me that they kinda encourage the others to hatch. I know it sounds funny, but I think it really does.

As far as the blood, Im guessing when it piped the shell it proabbly went through one of the little veins you see when you candle your eggs, because I have had them do this before. I wouldn't worry to much about it right now, Id say its still not quite ready and working on absorbing the rest of the yolk sac.

I will not normally try to help one out of the shell unless it has been 24 hours since it has piped and shows no real signs of zipping. I have helped them out before with great success, you just have to be very careful removing the shell and membrane. If you notice a lot of veining still with blood in them, I would stop because they are not quite ready and they could die if a lot of the veins become ripped. I just cover whats left of the shell and egg with a moist paper towel, and play the waiting game. Hope this helps some, like I said Im no expert this is just what I normally do.

 

[minikeeper1143]

Thanks, the moist paper towel sounds like a great idea. I will try it and try to go to bed. I am exhausted and sitting here agonizing and not knowing what to do is no fun. thanks for the reply.

Carolyn

 

[sshannon024]

I only do the paper towel over the shell/membrane if I have tried to help them out and they are not ready yet. Since you expose so much removing the shell, they can dry out really quick. If it has just a pip I wouldn't worry about a paper towel right now.

Your welcome, try to rest and maybe by the time you get up the bator will be full of new little chicks!

Good Luck!!!