Is this egg shrink-wrapped? CLICK ON ME FIRST!

[MysteryChicken]

Yes, right now we are using a paint brush with coconut oil on it.

Okay, that should work.

Has the membrane loosened after the first application?

 

[Skipper Carnes]

I have helped him out quite a lot, but I still am not sure if he has absorbed all he yolk as I have not peeled that part back yet. I am going to see if he can do the rest of the work? Is that okay?

 

[Skipper Carnes]

Yes, it has. What do we do if he still has a yolk intact?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I have helped him out quite a lot, but I still am not sure if he has absorbed all he yolk as I have not peeled that part back yet. I am going to see if he can do the rest of the work? Is that okay?

Usually when they start hatching, they're ready. But you can give it break for awhile. Won't hurt.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Please continue with what @MysteryChicken advises. I'm glad she's able to help. I'm headed out in a bit, so I can't stick around to help much or I'd chime in, too.

I just want to add my bit before I go.... If the chick is still making a chewing or yawning motion, it's still absorbing the yolk and is NOT ready. If there are active blood vessels in the membrane, the coconut oil should make them easy to see. If it's NOT chewing, and there are NO blood vessels you can see, then you can proceed slowly. Chip away the shell (zip line), and tear a strip from the membrane around the zip. Very, very slowly. Keep it moist. At the first sign of blood, STOP, hold a scrap of paper towel on the vessel until bleeding stops, then give it a few more hours. If no blood, keep going, slowly. The chick should kick itself out then. If not, it may be too weak or actually stuck to the memrane. You'll need to peel the membrane off the chick, but still let it actually kick out of the bottom of the shell. Watch carefully for any remains of the yolk attached to the navel. Once out, give it several hours to rest in the incubator, dry off, close the navel, and get up and active. Good luck!!!!!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Yes, it has. What do we do if he still has a yolk intact?

Put, it in a clean cup, so it can't get out, so the yolk can fully absorb.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Yes, it has. What do we do if he still has a yolk intact?

You leave it in the incubator. He'll probably drag that bit around with him, and that's ok. I remove any scraps of shell out of the way, and leave him alone to rest and dry up. The stringy membrane with yolk should fall off naturally as the navel closes. When done, it usually looks like a stringy, whitish blob dragging along behind him but no yellow yolk remains. If it hasn't fallen off naturally, you may need to snip the cord and treat the navel with antibiotic ointment. But don't do this until you're sure he's absorbed all he's going to.
Edited to add: @MysteryChicken is RIGHT. If there's a significant amount of yolk left, put him and his shell in a cup so he can't move much, until he's absorbed it all.

 

[Skipper Carnes]

The dry crusty parts even when heavily moisturized are not wanting to come off. I don't want to rip his skin off if I try to pull it.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

The dry crusty parts even when heavily moisturized are not wanting to come off. I don't want to rip his skin off if I try to pull it.

You can dab a bit of warm water on the crusty bits, and give it some time to soften.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Good luck with this chick. I'm signing out for now.