I need 'Help

[Polk13]

'HELP" One of my hatching chicks started to peck it's way out of the egg last night but only got one little hole in the egg...on the narrow end. I know that you can't help the chick at first but it has been 24 hrs. and I can clearly hear it cheeping. But hasn't made anymore progress. It starts to cheep when it can hear me messing with the other chick that hatched out. Now I know it is still alive and didn't drown when it broke the wrong end of egg...sooo what do I do? Leave it alone or help it? Please help asap!! Thank you for any feed back you can give me.

 

[can you hear me now?]

I know there are many opinions on this. Mine is if it goes 24 hours and I think I can save the bird I help. I would let others answer so you can make your best informed decision but that is what I would do.

 

[Dora'smom]

I know you're not supposed to help, but I think I would anyway, though very cautiously. If you see any bleeding, you have to stop. Their blood volume is so very small that they can't afford to lose any.
We hatched out two Turkens a few days ago. The first one hatched without any problem. The second one pipped, but didn't get all the way through the membrane, so I had my husband break a very small hole in it so the little one could breathe, and would not suffocate. I don't know if that was a potential bad move or not, but he/she was able to finish zipping and hatch. Sometimes you just feel that things could go very badly if you don't intervene in some small way. Good luck with your birds.

 

[erikarn]

I just had a chick that pipped and 16 hours later had not made it out. I searched the messege board for "helping chicks hatch" (I think) and found some good info. He is doing great. The first few hours he looked terrible, but he made a complete turn around. I would try to help before you lose that chick. I always feel better knowing I gave it my best try.

 

[UGAchick]

This post might get a better response rate in the "incubating and hatching eggs" section.

I would help the chick, but do so VERY carefully. In the past I have set up a desk lamp on the counter shining on a towel. This will at least keep the baby kind of warm while you are working. Then I used tweezers to zip for the chick. I don't go all the way around, just maybe halfway and I try to go through the shell only and not the membrane. Make sure the humidity is right so the membrane doesn't dry out. If, after an hour or so the baby still isn't out, I would help a little more.

Good luck!!

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Yup that's what I'd do.

After I help a little I wrap in a WARM wet paper towel and throw back in the bator. I've saved many a chick this way.

 

[amydurose]

What did you do?

 

[Polk13]

I did help the chick but just a very little bit. There was a little spot of blood but in a few more hours it made it the rest of the way out. Healthy and strong. I had two more the started on the wrong end and made it out ok, one is real healthy and doing good but we lost the other one. I have 4 beautiful baby chicks. Thanks for all the help from everyone.