help chick out of shell? WITH PIC

[beckymom3]

I was

throughout this thread, biting my nails and

but now I'm

because this last baby made it!

I had 8 chicks die shrink wrapped in their membranes because I moved the incubator 30 miles on day 21 and couldn't keep up the heat and humidity (didn't know I should worry about it, such a newbie

).

I really, really feel for all of you!

I luckily managed to save 1 lovely EE chickie by carefully removing shell and membrane as described above using wet cloths, keeping her in the incubator as much as possible, etc. I used info on BYC (see the section on helping chicks out during hatch) and it worked. She's now healthy and happy at 1 week of age.

BYC is an amazing resource.

Use it, as you have, and good luck!

 

[beckymom3]

This link is to a wonderful help, the sticky on helping chicks hatch. Read it! This helped me save a baby!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9316

 

[shadburnchicks]

That is great news!!! She should be fine now. She may be a little weaker than the other chicks in the beginning so make sure they don't pick on her but sounds like you've nursed her back to health. I always thought it was best to let nature take it's course but I firmly believe these chicks need our help every now and then. I'd rather help them a little than let them die. You're a great mid-wife!!

 

[meriruka]

As long as the other chicks don't pic at her 'navel' she should be fine. Congrats!

 

[krstms]

You can put a bandaid over her navel to keep the other birds from pecking at it. I had one have something like that on my first hatch. I didnt know to cover it and it wound up getting it stuck to the bottom of the bator and when it tried to move it would pull on it. It wound up pulling it's intestines out and died. I've had one like that since that I covered up and it did just fine. It healed in a couple of days. Good luck!

 

[jimma207]

Quote:
thanks....

 

[davony's chicks]

This thread has been an amazing one and BYCer's are awesome!!!

I hope she continues to do well.

e

Everybody has had some good advice to give and hopefully the rest of us will never have to use it but it is here when we need it.

Thank you all for sharing!

 

[lexgold]

Wow, a few days ago I read this thread and don't you know the same thing has now happened to me.
I had a chick pip and just make no progress.
Eventually tonight I picked the shell mostly off the top half and helped him shed the membrane to free the head a and a wing and he did the rest himself! Amazing. Thankyou.

 

[hanfield]

I am really thankful for this thread. I am waiting on a hatch right now. I have one small hole pipped in one egg. How long do we wait until taking some action to help?

It is all very anxiety producing. This is the first time using an incubator. I use to live on a farm and always just used broody hens. No work required. We live in the suburbs now and thought it would be a good experience for the kids. I am really glad thing worked out for your chick.

 

[meriruka]

Wait as long as you can before helping. It really is best for them to do it on their own, it gets their legs working properly. A lot of chicks that are helped have leg problems or weakness for a week or two after hatch which need extra help or correction.

A chick can pip the shell & do nothing for up to 48 hours than come out just fine. They pip to get air in so they can breathe though they may not be ready to hatch yet. Some pip then just bust right out.

(Fun fact: So far with all of my hatches (about a dozen or so) the first one to hatch has always been a boy. Strange, huh? And my silkies pip in the morning then refuse to hatch out until after I'm asleep, in the dark. I rarely get to see one come out)

Anyway, I know it's hard not to jump in there and help, but I'd really only start to worry 48 hours after pip if nothing happens. Some pip and just don't make it, it's sad but it happens. You can candle the egg to see if it is still moving in there by sitting in the dark, putting a paper towel tube to your eye and the egg at the other end, and shine a strong flashlight up through the egg pointing the flashlight straight up through the tube vertically. Sometimes you can just point a strong flashlight into the incubator right into the pip and the egg will wiggle. Try not to open the incubator if you can help it, it lowers the humidity and makes it harder for the chicks to hatch. Also, check unpipped eggs to make sure the chick has not pipped on the bottom of the egg, it may drown if it does this. If you find one, just turn it pip side up.

Hope this helps!