Hatching emergency! I thought I was doing an eggtopsy but it is alive!

[cejones119]

So I thought I would be doing an eggtopsy on one of my call duck eggs. I'm two days past the last day of hatch, there was no blood vesseling and definitely no movement. I pulled away the shell above the air cell and low and behold this duck is alive!! I don't see any vesseling, but there is still liquid in the membrane. I made a small slit before I realized it was alive. So how is this thing breathing in a liquid filled shell without blood supply? I think he might be upside down because I don't see any sign of a head as far as I can tell. So my question is were do I go from here? I've never had this happen before...

 

[duckyfromoz]

Try to listen for any tapping on the shell to work out where the head may be. If you can hear any place the egg back in the incubator with that point facing upwards to give the little one the best chance. If there is still alot of fluid- the little one may not make it- but best of luck to you with this one.

 

[bellearoo]

I had to help 4 of my ducklings hatch. You need to get a clean towel and get the egg and using tweezers or your fingers start picking away the shell. You should start at the end where the head is so you can make sure it gets enough oxygen while you are working on it. A bit of blood is to be expected, but if it starts to bleed too much put it back in the incubator or other warm place for about a half an hour. Then take it out again and continue. Some people say leave it and let nature take it's course, but I can't just do nothing so have helped them out of their shell and they are just as strong and beautiful as the ones who hatched on their own. You should do this soon, I wouldn't wait any longer because it will probably not make it. Especially if it is upside down, one of mine was so I just started at the end where the head is and it all went well. When it is all out wrap it with a towel or cloth and put it in a very warm place until it gets it's bearings. It can be several hours. Good luck with your baby.

 

[emvickrey]

I've helped many chicks out and have had more make it than not. The only thing I do different than bellearoo is if there is bleeding I hurry and get it out and stop the bleeding. I use a piece of paper towel (dry) or a wash cloth and hold it on where the cord was attached. If I needed to remove the cord I pinched it near it's belly long enough with tweezers till the blood flow was stopped in that spot then used a small pair of scissors and cut it then immediately held just a dad bit of pressure on it till it stopped bleeding. Then put it back in the hatcher/incubator till it gets it's strength and starts to move around. Most of the ones i've helped that bled more than I cared for took a little longer to move around. They usually just laid there. It will either gain it's strength or die. Not much else you can do that I know of once you get it out and stop the bleeding.

I tried just setting it back in the hatcher instead of getting it out of the egg and they bled to death. So now I finish the job and leave the rest up to the chick. I've done egtopsies and had live chicks with some yolk still attached and I get a paper towel warm and wrap the chick and remaining egg if it's not bleeding and put it back in the hatcher. I've had about a 50/50 survival rate when that happened. I've had some not able to get themselves zipped because they had leg problems. The few that where at the wrong end couldn't move around the egg to zip their way out and some have.

Some will say let nature take it's course but I try to give them all a chance to live. I know when other farm animals and pets are in trouble we help them so why not chicks?