I am a wreck need an answer

[Pinenot]

One of the eggs piped yesterday evening between 4-5PM Today it hasn't done anything. The hole hasn't gotten bigger and I havn't heard any little pips. Do you think it is still OK. How long do you give it???

 

[speckledhen]

At this point, I think I'd intervene. It's been 24 hours, right? I've had that happen and on occasion, they've died in the shell if I don't check on them by the time an entire day has passed. You could let it go, or check it out, whichever your philosophy dictates.

 

[Pinenot]

How would I check on it? Poke it...Open the egg?? It hasn't been 24 hours yet. In a couple of hours it will have been 24 hours. If I open it, I am afraid it will be deformed from my help. I helped once and the poor bird never could walk....

 

[thndrdancr]

You can very delicately check on it, and pick away pieces of the shell VERY carefully, where the air cell is, with a toothpick or somethin like that, and if you see blood, then STOP. Make sure the little one has its beak so it can breathe, and then if the membrane is real tough, moisten it with warm water with an eye dropper, NOT near the beak tho. Dont tear OFF anything, just act like its a very patient operation. If you see blood, make for sure you stop, but make sure it can breathe in there.
I dont explain it very well, darnit, but I would do intervention, check on it right away I mean and not wait.

 

[PatNY]

Please read this Post
http://backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9316

 

[Pinenot]

I can see the egg tooth, but it never has moved today...So just pick a bit at a time, without the blood! Ok...I am going to attempt to poke its beak with a toothpick very lightly.

Nothing happened...should I keep on?

 

[Pinenot]

OK...I took off some of the shell. Maybe 1/4 of an inch and then saw some blood. I stopped and put it back in the incubator. I have heard no pips, saw no movement. The due date is tomorrow and I have another that just started piping. So since I saw blood and stopped...now what?

 

[speckledhen]

It didn't react to touch? Hmm, not a great sign. Take it out and place it on a very damp, warm washcloth and start taking pieces of the shell off, starting as close to the aircell as possible. Just go slowly-you'll know if it moves or doesnt, if its still alive. It should be breathing.

 

[silkiechicken]

Sorry to say but no movement means that it is most likey dead. If they are due tomorrow, incubation temps might be high and the chick might have ran out of energy already. Up the humidity and avoid opening it up for now.

If the chick is dead, see how much yolk it absorbed and you might be able to see why it did not make it. Could have very easily had a birh defect.

You said it bled though... it can only bleed if it is alive, as blood clots very quickly when they are dead.

 

[karri25]

Ok, but let us know because I am so worried for you.