I'm an idiot! I cracked an egg open and there was a live chick inside!

[alphazimbo]

This little keet is definitely alive - I can see it moving/breathing and it was opening and closing it's little beak. I've put the warm wet wash cloth over it to stop it from drying out - hopefully it "hatches"! My only concern is that if it does hatch it won't be very strong cause it won't have to put forth any effort to hatch...ah well, I'll just hope for the best.

 

[catwalk]

Good luck with him! It's something that either you do and learn from, or you don't do because you learned from someone who did. My first incubation attempt, I tripped over the manual turner handle and broke two eggs with moving fetuses, and I cooked the remainder, save one, on the last day! I still use my "shake & baker", with modifications to prevent repetitions of my mistakes.

 

[klf73]

I think no matter how much we hear to not do it we still end up doing it at some point. I am with everyone else, learn from your mistakes. You can't change it, just hope for the best and don't beat yourself up. I bet most of the people here have done it....

 

[JenEric Farms]

I did this with my first hatch. I candled and it was all dark, dumb me thought that meant it was "rotten". Poor little chick. I felt awful!

 

[tamelroy]

don't feel bad, I just did that with on of my chicks. I thought it wasn't growing cuz I candled and it was way smaller then the others, well it was alive. The poor thing bleed to death!

I keep trying to tell myself it might have not hatched cuz it was so small, but it still hurts all the same!

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[poultryhaven]

I dont know if anyone has asked but was the yolk already absorbed???
Don't be toohard on yourself, it happens.

 

[alphazimbo]

Yes, I think the yolk has been absorbed although there was a little blood in the egg when I cracked it open (not from the chick) - the air cell was also totally dry...so it seems to me that it was very close. I just checked on it and it is still alive so there might be some hope after all! I'm keeping the wash cloth moist by rewetting it with a syringe. To give you a visual - I cracked the egg open on the fat end where the air cell is (with a teaspoon) and in the process broke the membrane a little - all of that being said, the keet is still sitting in the egg (which is my opinion is good!)....Will keep everyone posted on the progress!

 

[alphazimbo]

Just an update - my little guinea keet is still alive! And it's been about 26 hours since my moment of epic stupidity. The other eggs haven't hatched but it seems that this little keet is getting more active and perhaps wanting to hatch? My husband says that if it lives we should call it "Lazarus" regardless of it's sex...ha.

And thank you everyone for your advice! I really really appreciate it!

 

[Dust Bunny]

yes please don't be to hard on yourself it does happen, and it took allot of courage for you to tell us what happened and ask for help, i hope he/she will be OK

best wishes

 

[alphazimbo]

Hey all, it seems that my "premature" guinea fowl keet has hatched but is not walking - just kind of flopping around....so, my question is - how long does it usually take a bird like this to start walking? It's trying really hard and is chirping a lot which I think is good - it's also obvious that it DID absorb the yolk so that is good.