HELP! First time hatching baby chicks

[amariemommy]

My brother is a vet tech and someone brought in fertilized chicken eggs 22 days ago. Of the 3 we have one has started hatching. We did not know anything about hatching baby chickens but the person only told us to put them under a 100w bulb and make sure the temp stays at 99-100 degrees. After doing some reasearch I read they need humidity and turned 3x a day so I wiped them with wet cotton balls every day and was turning them up until 4 days ago.

One chick pipped around 12:30am by 2:30 am he had made himself a little hole as shown in the picture. The problem is, now at 7am, 6.5 hours after pipping he only has that hole plus a little extra busted off and there is a slight amount of blood. I read this link

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_can_you_help_a_chicken_egg_hatch

and it seems to describe what is going on with him (very white membrane chick seems stuck and unable to move) and I'm worried about humidity as they have not been in a regular incubator.

Do I try to help him out following the directions shown here? Here is a picture taken at 2am, he has not zipped at all and again only has that one hole. He is cheeping like crazy

pip
k-

hole

 

[BradnKellie]

My experience has always been to let them come out on their own. It can take them a while.

 

[amariemommy]

Ok thank you, I was only worried because he seems like hes just sitting there chirping out of his little hole, which is good I suppose at least he's happy lol) I just didn't know he was "shrink wrapped" as I have read about due to humidity issues. I took a dropper with warm sterile water and put a few drops on the membrane (being very careful not to get any near his beak or more than a drop which could drown him) and I can clearly see red blood vessels in his membrane which I assume means he is not yet ready to hatch?

 

[BradnKellie]

Oh, he looks ready. He is probably just resting so that he can finish the job. When he is ready, he will come out.

 

[amariemommy]

Just checked on him and there is a few drops of blood coming out where he broke the egg and membrane some more. Is this normal/ok? Id take a picture but my phone is dead

 

[amariemommy]

Also his membrane seems very dry, it is completely white. I read to wrap it in a warm wash cloth just making sure not to cover his beak/head should I do that?

 

[ChknObsessedANG]

Our first hatch earlier this spring happened that way too....all of them hatched beautifully except the last little silkie girl. Her membrane turned all white and she was really struggling to hatch completely. We took the egg to the sink and ran hot water to allow the steam to help soften the membrane and helped her a little when she was really pushing...once she was fully out, we noticed the membrane was sticking to her feathers and we rubbed warm water on it with our fingers and it finally came off. I was really worried about her for a couple of days, but she is is doing well and should lay her own eggs anytime now!
Best of luck! I know its heart wrenching to watch little ones struggle! Hugs!

 

[amariemommy]

I put a wet paper towel to cover his membrane but made sure to avoid his beak. I went back to sleep around 7am (didn't sleep much at all worrying about this poor baby) and woke up at 12pm and he is fully hatched and doing great! I'm wondering what breed he is? Hes all black on top and on his head with a black beak but white tips on his wings and white underneath