HELP! Day 26 opened egg at air sac, chick alive inside

[mulia24]

confused

, but well hope everything is alright.

 

[eggsrcool]

Any update on the little guy?

 

[Chikpee]

Thanks for asking. Still wriggling. Still no cheeping, now temp is up humidity has gone down

No idea how to help him so trying to leave it alone. Will be so sad if he dies now... BUT will be elated it he makes it!

Not too hopeful really, it's been in there nearly 4 weeks. I think it needs to wriggle harder if it's going to break the membrane. The veins are much less prominent now, maybe it is getting dried out.

 

[Msbear]

Its probably too weak to hatch. They say after day 24, thier chances and strength diminish rapidly.

If you're not breeding for vigor... just have a backyard flock, I would open it.

Start very gently chipping away the shell.. it will bleed a bit. This is fine. You can stop if you want and let the veins dry. slowly peel away the membrane and let the chick out but stop when you get to the bottom (top) of the egg.

when you get to the bottom of the egg(where the chicky bottom is) , there will be veins connected to the navel (umbilical cord like) take off the shell, but leave the membrane. Place it back in the bator on a wet (with warm water) paper towel and let it finish drying out/absorbing any yolk.

You can cut these veins with tiny scissors but do NOT pull at them.. you will damage the navel.

It will probably be weak for a couple days.

Crank the humidity back down in the bator and let the temp stay around 95 for a day...

Don't put it in the brooder with the others til its walking.


Good Luck!!

 

[eggsrcool]

Yes, if you want this chick, I think its time to open the shell up. I agree totally with MsBear.

 

[Chikpee]

Thanks, both, I will open it up. Just have to wait a couple of hours until my children are in bed, otherwise I will get too much assistance!!!

Will let you know...

 

[eggsrcool]

Ok. Thank you.

Here is a useful link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9316

 

[Chikpee]

Didn't make it

I have put it in the incubator just in case, but it hasn't absorbed all the yolk and it's not moving any more.

The other two eggs had dead chicks in - they were formed but the yolk wasn't absorbed.

Other eggs that I took out earlier had died at various stages.

I think I just have to learn a lesson that the temperature was too low and I should have been measuring it at egg level. Membranes were all quite soft so I think the humity was ok. I only have a very basic incubator (Covatutto16) and no hope of anything better for the moment.

I have learned a lot, but I do feel a little like I have been messing with nature.

Thanks for all the advice, that link and MsBear's advice were both very useful.

 

[eggsrcool]

Im sorry

 

[Chikpee]

Are there any factors other that the temperature that could have caused this? I want to make sure I give them the best chance if I try again.

It's such a shame that they got so close. They were all different colours, too, they would have been a beautiful gang of chicks.