HELP - zipped and stuck

[flg8r]

We got 14 out 18 out of the incubator last night, the rest were showing no signs of progress. Right after that, two more pipped. This one started to zip last night and has been like this since maybe 9pm. The other unzipped and was out in minutes this morning. It's breathing and chirping but not making any progress. They're not even due until today but I figured 12 hours can't be good so I tried to help just now to see if I could chip a little more away from the zip and I don't think I can. The one piece of shell is stuck to him. I don't know what is normal but I'm afraid I'll hurt him. I put a drop of water on him earlier and again now. Can I do anything else? Can I help the zip at all without hurting him? It can't be good at this point right?

 

[flg8r]

His breathing looks a little harder so I tried again and managed to chip away a little more shell. I got the shell about halfway around so hopefully he can push through but the membrane is tough and seems to be stuck to him or at least so close I'm scared to hurt him. I added another drop of warm water to the membrane and then put the lid back on to warm him up and get the humidity back up. I try to not touch for a while now right? It's hard to not help!

 

[flg8r]

He's out now. I think he was literally stuck to the membrane at the opening - is that what people mean by shrink wrap? It doesn't look good though. He was upside down which I think is why he couldn't get out and there was green goo at the bottom (large end since he was backwards) of his egg.

Any advice??? I think I sit and wait now. He super weak and chirping pitifully. I'm glad he was the last one so the others aren't in there.

 

[flg8r]

#17 made a quick surprise entrance but this guy is still struggling. I feel it was darned if you do, darned if you don't. He had been zipped wide open for over 12 hours and was sticking to his shell and looked like he was struggling to breath. When he finally made it all the was out, he had green goo in there and it looks like he had not fully absorbed his yolk sac...but if I left him zipped wide open he surely would have died between the green goo problem, the breathing and sticking, right? There isn't a lot of information on zipping, most of it is on pipping and how long it should take, etc. Maybe I shouldn't have touched him.

Anyway, he still moving but he can't seem to get fully upright. It looks like he has absorbed most of his yolk/umbilical/ whatever and it is drying. I moved the healthy out as soon as I felt it was safe to so the weak one's in the bator by himself with one last unhatched egg. He has water but I'll probably make sure he finds it in a few hours if he hasn't by then. It's a pretty big space for a lone baby and he's staying on the other end.

I had 17/18 hatch on my first try and 16 seem to be healthy happy fuzzybutts but I feel bad about this one.

 

[USAmma]

I'm sorry no one has replied yet. I have no experience in this matter at all, but that's great that most of your chicks hatched! I hope the weak one gets stronger with time.

 

[Starkasm]

Just saw this post. How's your fuzzy butt doing? I just hatched out quail the other day. A bit nerve racking.

 

[flg8r]

He's not doing well. Very weak, legs extremely bent though the cord/sac is drying up. I took him to get water once but I don't think he can even control his head. I'm going to give him a few more hours to see if he perks up when his sac is absorbed otherwise I think culling is the most humane route. The other 16 are fuzzy and adorable. 16/18 on my first hatch, not bad. And I was using a Little Giant and could not get the temp and humidity steady so I'm thankful it's just the one having problems.

 

[Starkasm]

You're going to second guess yourself no matter what you do. It's done. Why did you think he hasn't absorbed the egg yolk? Is there orange attached to him? Let him rest, if possible keep him in the incubator til he gets a little stronger. He doesn't need water or food yet. Just keep him warm.
Give his head and feet time, he's exhausted.

 

[Quailsong]

Just saw this post. This is one reason why some folks don't recommend helping a hatch. As cruel as it may sound, it's possible he wasn't meant to hatch out. Instead of letting Nature take its course, now you've got to deal with a possible culling. Which in my personal experience is even harder [emotionally] to deal with. But this is how we learn, so please don't be hard on yourself - the fact that you care enough to post about this situation is admirable.

I would do what Starkasm says, wait it out a bit & see if he gathers up his strength. If he does, prepare some electrolytes & brewer's yeast water for him. The green slime btw might be bile; there may be something going on with its digestive system which might not be curable. Could be an internal injury/failure, and if so there's nothing you can do about that.

 

[smallbluejellybean]

I have assisted quails that still did not absorb their yolk fully yet. Some make it. It helps to increase the humidity in the incubator, don't put drops of water on him. The humidity helps absorb the yolk and to loosen the membrane. I have had chicks that can't move and the yolk half way in and out of the shell that still made it. Lay the little guy back in the incubator on a piece of cling wrap, so the yolk doesn't stick to anything. Raise the humidity right up and let him be. If he is going to make it he will and if he doesn't he doesn't. It's up to him now. He can breath now and it might just take a little time. Try also to keep the other chicks away from him. I never cull my chicks if they haven't absorbed their yolk. I just give them time.