Help please! Malposition assisting!

[Kizmet]

I was pulling out the duds and found this one still alive. I started at the air cell with a tiny chip and worked my way down. Have been chipping away and using oil every couple of hours. I did start some tiny bleeding at one point so stopped and waited again. I finally located the head and was able to open up the membrane around the face. I don’t know what to do from here.

 

[LynnaePB]

I'd say now it's just a waiting game. Keep the membrane moist with the oil like you have been and watch those blood vessels to see how they are absorbing. The blood vessels further down are the last to go so even when the blood vessels over the air cell are gone you will likely have to wait some more. Watch her/his beak for eating/chewing motions, they do this when they are still absorbing yolk/blood vessels. The little one may need your help pushing out when it's ready. Lots of striking upwards/outwards with the beak often accompanied with increased peeping is a good sign the little one may be ready (as long as the eating/chewing motion has stopped and there are no active blood vessels you can see). Sometimes they'll make a bit of a fuss a little before they are ready so give it time, if they settle back down in a few minutes let them be to finish absorbing. If the activity ramps up and they are really looking like they are trying to get out for a bit they are likely ready. Go slowly and watch carefully for any bleeding. I like to have some betadine on hand to sterilize the naval in case I misjudge and pull the baby out a little early and it has a bit of a raw naval. Have something on hand to stop any bleeding quickly should it occur (just applying very light pressure with a paper towel usually works well for me).

Based on the blood vessels I can see in the picture you may be waiting for a while before the little one is ready to come out. She/he has access to air so there really isn't anything more you can do until it's ready other than keeping that membrane moist. Good job with what looks like a difficult assist, I hope your little one pulls through for you, it looks like you've given it its best chance!

This is a really good article on assisted hatching that may be helpful if you haven't read it already.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Kizmet]

I'd say now it's just a waiting game. Keep the membrane moist with the oil like you have been and watch those blood vessels to see how they are absorbing. The blood vessels further down are the last to go so even when the blood vessels over the air cell are gone you will likely have to wait some more. Watch her/his beak for eating/chewing motions, they do this when they are still absorbing yolk/blood vessels. The little one may need your help pushing out when it's ready. Lots of striking upwards/outwards with the beak often accompanied with increased peeping is a good sign the little one may be ready (as long as the eating/chewing motion has stopped and there are no active blood vessels you can see). Sometimes they'll make a bit of a fuss a little before they are ready so give it time, if they settle back down in a few minutes let them be to finish absorbing. If the activity ramps up and they are really looking like they are trying to get out for a bit they are likely ready. Go slowly and watch carefully for any bleeding. I like to have some betadine on hand to sterilize the naval in case I misjudge and pull the baby out a little early and it has a bit of a raw naval. Have something on hand to stop any bleeding quickly should it occur (just applying a little pressure with a paper towel usually works well for me).

Based on the blood vessels I can see in the picture you may be waiting for a while before the little one is ready to come out. She/he has access to air so there really isn't anything more you can do until it's ready other than keeping that membrane moist. Good job with what looks like a difficult assist, I hope your little one pulls through for you, it looks like you've given it its best chance!

This is a really good article on assisted hatching that may be helpful if you haven't read it already.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Thank you sooo much for your helpful reply!! I will keep waiting and helping. If he makes it I will be thrilled but trying to prepare for disappointment. I will update soon.

 

[Kizmet]

When I went to check him again just now he had already died. Have had the worst day today, was really hoping for something good.

 

[LynnaePB]

Oh no, that looked like a tough position to assist. Looks like you did everything right and it just wasn't meant to be. I have a really hard time with assists where the head is buried down below the air cell with no beak visible after opening the shell over the air cell. Sometimes it works out but often they just don't pull through. It was very kind of you to give your little one a chance, I'm so sorry it didn't work out this time.

 

[Kizmet]

Oh no, that looked like a tough position to assist. Looks like you did everything right and it just wasn't meant to be. I have a really hard time with assists where the head is buried down below the air cell with no beak visible after opening the shell over the air cell. Sometimes it works out but often they just don't pull through. It was very kind of you to give your little one a chance, I'm so sorry it didn't work out this time.

Thank you for your kind words, they really help with the guilt.

 

[MGG]

I'm so sorry you lost it. It probably just had issues, and most likely would have passed even if it did hatch. It doesn't look malpositioned at all to me though

 

[Kizmet]

I'm so sorry you lost it. It probably just had issues, and most likely would have passed even if it did hatch. It doesn't look malpositioned at all to me though

Thanks

Are you sure it wasn’t a malposition though? When I opened the air cell and worked my way down I didn’t find the beak until I’d gotten all the way to the pointy end of the egg.