Hen had a cracked egg

[ruple1984]

My hen started being broody and wanted to lay on eggs so I took them in the house candled them and 6 had big chicks in them (don't know the date of when they should hatch) but anyway I placed them back with her and today one had a crack in the shell just like a little pip with a crack and anyway I checked on her again and the egg looks like she pecked it open it's pretty big I can see the chick moving it had a lot of blood veins and some yolk hanging out of it so I took the egg to my incubator and wrapped it in a wash rag that is damp I don't know what else to do...does the chick need its head to be lifted out so it can breathe? It's been in the incubator for like 2 hours and its still moving in the egg

 

[ruple1984]

 

[ruple1984]

 

[chick chicks]

I'm a bit of a newbie, but I would leave it, if it wasn't meant to hatch right now then it probably won't make it anyway (sorry to say

) they need to absorb the yolk before they come out. If it is going to survive I think it's best chances will be inside the egg so it has more time to sort itself out before hatching, keep it away from the hen and somewhere warm so she doesn't peck at it. It's important for the chicks that they get out without help if possible because it helps them build strength to walk and do other things. Sort of a natural selection thing I guess. Good luck

 

[ruple1984]

Thanks...the chick looks good so far in there it cleared the slimy coating off it and is breathing well! Hopefully it will hurry and soak up that yolk! And blood veins!!!