I messed up- assisting hatch

[Drapery Mary]

Hoping everything worked out ok for your chick...keep us posted.

 

[daze333]

You were right! I hate it when people are morons!!

 

[rbaker0345]

That is such a good idea about the oil. I tried with water and drowned a chick. Oil (slapping my forehead with the heel of my hand), why didn't I think of that!

If I break the membrane and there's blood, I immediately grab the chick by the beak and pull its head out, so that it doesn't inhale any blood. Then I wrap in damp paper towel and stick it in the incubator for no more than 12 hours. If blood vessels are still too intact, I take it and put it in a coffee cup (with dry paper towel to help it stand upright) in the brooder under the lamp where the temp is about 95. I have found that if I have the membrane open, and its in the damp incubator for longer than 12 hours, infection sets in. If the chick has mostly absorbed the yolk and I leave it in the brooder, then the dryness prevents infection and encourages the blood vessels to finish contracting

I keep a container of wonder dust nearby and when I think the baby is ready to come out of the shell, I remove the shell from the membrane so that I can see the blood vessels really well. If there is still a little blood in the smallest vessels, I snip them one at a time and apply pressure, then I use the wonder dust, this is a styptic powder and an antiseptic/drying agent.

If the blood vessels are taking a long time to contract, i puff a little wonder dust into the shell to ward off infection while the chick sits in the shell, still attached to the membranes.

 

[daze333]

That is such a good idea about the oil. I tried with water and drowned a chick. Oil (slapping my forehead with the heel of my hand), why didn't I think of that!

If I break the membrane and there's blood, I immediately grab the chick by the beak and pull its head out, so that it doesn't inhale any blood. Then I wrap in damp paper towel and stick it in the incubator for no more than 12 hours. If blood vessels are still too intact, I take it and put it in a coffee cup (with dry paper towel to help it stand upright) in the brooder under the lamp where the temp is about 95. I have found that if I have the membrane open, and its in the damp incubator for longer than 12 hours, infection sets in. If the chick has mostly absorbed the yolk and I leave it in the brooder, then the dryness prevents infection and encourages the blood vessels to finish contracting

I keep a container of wonder dust nearby and when I think the baby is ready to come out of the shell, I remove the shell from the membrane so that I can see the blood vessels really well. If there is still a little blood in the smallest vessels, I snip them one at a time and apply pressure, then I use the wonder dust, this is a styptic powder and an antiseptic/drying agent.

If the blood vessels are taking a long time to contract, i puff a little wonder dust into the shell to ward off infection while the chick sits in the shell, still attached to the membranes.

If you are wondering if the blood vessels are contracted or not, you can remove a small amount of the shell and put oil on the membrane. This makes it opaque and you can see the blood vessels if they are still there. Then I put it back in the bator for a while. I have been using this method for about a year now and haven't broken any blood vessels. I like your idea about putting in the brooder.

 

[rbaker0345]

Thanks, I have had to develop this method because I am having humidity issues and keep having to assist. Its gotten to the point that as soon as they manage to pip externally, I take the top off and pull their heads out and stick em in the brooder. They get themselves out when they're strong and ready enough. Next time I accidentally open one that hasn't internally pipped, I will try the oil thing. Or, I am wondering if a surfactant like aloe gel would work better.

 

[clucknpeck]

Ok update!
This morning the chick had not progressed at all. I zipped the shell almost all the way, not touching the membrane, and there was no blood. I put olive oil on the membrane- thanks for that!- and went to work.
I got home and HOORAY the chick had hatched! the chick is very healthy along with 3 others that hatched, and more have pipped. I assume the pic I am posting is the silkie chick because it's the only one with feathered legs. The others to hatch were oeg and Ameraucana. This egg was clearly labeled pet quality, I got a variety of quality eggs, so I am wondering if it is normal for it to have only 4 toes?

Anyway, I am so so so happy! Thank you all for your advice and support.

 

[rbaker0345]

Good Job, knew you could do it. A little nerve wracking though, wasn't it?

 

[clucknpeck]

Good Job, knew you could do it.  A little nerve wracking though, wasn't it?

Thanks! I was a wreck all day and raced to the hatcher as soon as I got home.

 

[daze333]

Great job mommy!

 

[SilkieSensation]

Ok update!
This morning the chick had not progressed at all. I zipped the shell almost all the way, not touching the membrane, and there was no blood. I put olive oil on the membrane- thanks for that!- and went to work.
I got home and HOORAY the chick had hatched!

the chick is very healthy along with 3 others that hatched, and more have pipped. I assume the pic I am posting is the silkie chick because it's the only one with feathered legs. The others to hatch were oeg and Ameraucana. This egg was clearly labeled pet quality, I got a variety of quality eggs, so I am wondering if it is normal for it to have only 4 toes?


Anyway, I am so so so happy! Thank you all for your advice and support.

If those are mine, check legs again on the other babies. That looks like 1 of my EE/Cochins...LOL