- Mar 15, 2011
- 267
- 55
- 271
Long story short...(sort of)
Tried hatching under a broody hen for the first time. As times has passed, 9 of the 12 eggs have exploded and were filled with green goo and smelled horrid.
About 4 hours ago, I checked in the nest to find one egg trying to hatch (2 days early). About 60 percent of the shell was removed, but the chick has not gotten out of the membrane.
Because I was not able to clean after yesterday's explosion, I am sure the nest, the mama, and the eggs are contaminated with bacteria. I was stunned to find one hatching. I put it in the clean incubator (about 85 percent humidity). Her beak has been out for a few hours, and she is cheeping and trying. About 20 minutes ago, I thought she looked stuck. The membrane is looking very dry. So I put her in a sink of warm water and moistened her up a bit and flicked off a few bits of shell. She's back in the bator and the membrane looks dry again.
I've only hatched once before. It was in the bator and the ducks got out fast and clean. Their eggs tops were zippered off almost like a cartoon. There is no cartoon here today. It's all very scary looking. It is common for most of the shell to be removed (maybe by the mama?) and is it common if most of the shell is gone for the membrane to look dry?
How would I know if she's super-glued in and can I moisten her out of it?
I'll take any advice (though maybe I don't need to hear the "if she won't make it alone don't help it's not good for her anyway" theory. I just don't think I can have that discussion today). We are fretting terribly over here.
Many thanks.
Tried hatching under a broody hen for the first time. As times has passed, 9 of the 12 eggs have exploded and were filled with green goo and smelled horrid.
About 4 hours ago, I checked in the nest to find one egg trying to hatch (2 days early). About 60 percent of the shell was removed, but the chick has not gotten out of the membrane.
Because I was not able to clean after yesterday's explosion, I am sure the nest, the mama, and the eggs are contaminated with bacteria. I was stunned to find one hatching. I put it in the clean incubator (about 85 percent humidity). Her beak has been out for a few hours, and she is cheeping and trying. About 20 minutes ago, I thought she looked stuck. The membrane is looking very dry. So I put her in a sink of warm water and moistened her up a bit and flicked off a few bits of shell. She's back in the bator and the membrane looks dry again.
I've only hatched once before. It was in the bator and the ducks got out fast and clean. Their eggs tops were zippered off almost like a cartoon. There is no cartoon here today. It's all very scary looking. It is common for most of the shell to be removed (maybe by the mama?) and is it common if most of the shell is gone for the membrane to look dry?
How would I know if she's super-glued in and can I moisten her out of it?
I'll take any advice (though maybe I don't need to hear the "if she won't make it alone don't help it's not good for her anyway" theory. I just don't think I can have that discussion today). We are fretting terribly over here.
Many thanks.
