HELP - chick not all the way out of shell

[shadburnchicks]

This is our first time with hatching baby chicks so we need some advice. 3 have already hatched and several more have holes and hopefully will today or tomorrow. Today is day #20. One baby chick is partially out and has been for at least 4 hours. It's still slightly moving and breathing but doesn't seem to be trying to get out very much. Should we try to break a little of its shell? I've heard their feathers can dry out causing them to stick the shell and die. None of the others have taken this long so we're very concerned.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! We've been coming to this forum all weekend and it's helped so much!

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
Up the humidity if it isn't over 65% already. It can take babies up to a day to completely hatch out

Keep us updated!

 

[The Wolf Queen]

If it is still stuck I would recomend that you wet the membranes on it with some warm water.

 

[VerlonCox]

I "help" my baby chicks all the time but then again I have some high dollar birds that most dont mess with (serama's, blue giants, pomeranian geese and pea chicks). The trick is knowing how much is too much. The first thing that I do is crack the area around the air hole more so that the chick can breathe a little better. You have two membranes inside of the egg with the inner most membrane being full of blood vessels this is the one that you really dont want to mess with too much. NEVER pull that membrane completely off of your chick because it will kill him almost instantly if it isn't dried up enough. What I do is crack any of the shell that is free from that inner most membrane and pull it off along with SOME of the membrane that is stuck to the shell (if you pull this membrane off of the inner most membrane it will cause it to bleed and you want to avoid that). If he/she starts to bleed dont freak out just put him back in the incubator for a few hours and tackle it again when its dried out. NEVER mist your egg with water but you can dab your finger in luke warm water and gently rub it on the inner membrane to mosten it if it gets too dry to work with. I NEVER take the chicks completely out of the shell, I leave their bottom part attached to the shell and eventually they will work it off in a half a day or so. That inner membrane is full of blood until it is punctured a little making it bleed and that sends a signal to cut off blood to it, that is what you are striving for. Good luck to you on hatching it and I say go for it.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

This is a very touchy sub for me. I only help when I think I really need to and its always a possiblility that I could be wrong. But if I absolutely don't help, I will possibly loose some and if I jump the gun, I could loose some. I only help those that have started and have been working for about a day and not making much progress. I then work slow and watch for blood vessels. Any sign of blood and I stop. Only work with shell and keep things wet if that is the case. Then the chick has to work on its own for a while. Hopefully I don't have to completely remove them, but I have saved a few by doing so.

 

[shadburnchicks]

Thank you all so much for your advice. It came on out not too long after I posted the question but I think it was breach. The wing was one of the first parts to come out. It's neck is tucked under and still doesn't look normal. I hope it makes it but it's certainly doing a lot of flopping. It's really sad! But we have about 5 more that have holes and are moving so hopefully they'll be fine.

You guys are so helpful!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

To be able to pip and turn in the shell correctly, their head should be under their right wing. Don't ask me why...just did the research and this is the way it's supposed to be.

They often take a long rest and finish absorbing the yolk after they zip. Honestly, it really is best not to help them much and only when it is obvious that they are completely stuck and have been for many, many hours.

You do risk the life of the others intervening for one. Glad it got out ok!!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Usually if they can't get out there is something wrong with them. Many say let nature take its course and if your humidity has been good I say let it be so you don't harm the other hatches. If you open the bator you may have to help more then that one out. I learned the hard way. Opened it to help one out and ended up losing many of the others as well. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[jjparke]

It's gonna happen when we home hatch. It's ugly. I've never had one survive that partially hatched and I tried to help. My stance has become if it can't get out of the shell on its own then it's not strong enough to survive. Good luck.

 

[shadburnchicks]

Quote:
I forgot to say in my last post that we didn't have to help it. We did choose to let nature run it's course. But it's neck still hasn't straightened out so I think it's deformed.

But I'm glad you said not to open the bator because we were going to get the one that is 24 hours old out and put him in the brooder box because he's trying to get to the water in the bottom of the bator. From what we've read, they're fine in the bator for 2-3 days so we'll wait and let the rest of the chicks hatch. I'm assuming that means without food and water, right?