Help! Chick may be shrinkwrapped!!!

[chickeneer45]

I really don't understand what happens when a chick gets shrinkwrapped, but I think that my chick may be shrinkwrapped. I waited 24 hours to remove the other five chicks, but the two remaining eggs had pipped. I only removed the incubator lid for about ten to twenty seconds. It has now been about twenty four hours since the chick pipped. If I tap the glass, I see the chick moving around a little and last night I heard him chirping. I can't really tell with the other egg because there is another eggshell in the way of the pip, but I think that that one might be dead. What do I do? How do I help this chick? Is it shrinkwrapped? Or is it just struggling to get out? Please help!
I posted this on the incubating and hatching forum but no one replied!!! I need help soon!!! Please take take the time to reply; my chick could be dead soon!!!

 

[Sjisty]

I would remove the eggshell that is blocking the other egg. That chick might not be dead, just unable to finish pipping because of the other shell.

The one that is chirping - This is where many people will disagree and say leave it alone and let it hatch or die by itself.

I would gently peel the top of the shell off (where the air sac is). Look at the membrane. Is it white, dry, and stuck to the chick? Is it moist with veins running through it? If it is moist, do not try to peel - it may bleed to death! Wrap loosely in a warm damp paper towel and put back in the incubator.

If it is dry, I would take a few drops of warm water on my finger and pat it to moisten it. If it was totally dry, I would very carefully pierce the membrane and peel away a bit. If it starts bleeding, stop immediately! I would make sure the little chick's head can move around, then wrap very loosely in a warm, damp paper towel and put back in the incubator.

Good luck!

 

[CStulceSmith]

Ooooh....i hope you get an answer soon! Im sorry I cant help, ive never hatched anything, but I sure hope your chick makes it!

 

[CStulceSmith]

Update?

 

[chickeneer45]

I freed the chick and it is very small and it won't stop chirping. I think there something wrong with its legs, but I don't know what. Whenever it tries to walk around it just tumbles over because its legs are all weird. One of them keeps going up to his head and I don't really know how to explain it. Its like he still in the same form he was in the egg; you know how they have to be curled up, and its like its legs are used to be curled up by his head.... idk, I am really worried about him... like I said; he won't stop chirping, not even for a second. Any ideas on the leg problem? Thanks.

 

[CStulceSmith]

Oooh no! But thank you for an update! I hope its just underdevelopement and works itself out soon.

 

[Bernice Clark]

Three teachers saved a shrinkwrapped chick by wrapping her in warm damp washclothes under a gentle heat lamp and dipping q-tips in warm water and soaking the membrane enough to loosen it and gently tease it off. The chick (named Peeps) miraculously survived despite an initial 'leg deformity' After three days, the leg corrected itself and Peeps continued to improve. Such a fighter!!