My free range broody is sitting on 13 eggs. I went out to check on the progress as some are starting to peep and hatch and found one egg where the shell was mostly gone but the chick was wrapped almost completely in the thick membrane. There are 2 from what I've seen. A thin one and the thicker one on the inside of the shell.
To make a long story short this was an active chick with no way out from what I saw. I could have left it to struggle all night and maybe not make it but opted to help remove enough of the membrane for it to break free. Once I got it loosened the chick popped out peeping and flailing like crazy. I lost a chick last week when I helped it out but this one is so strong that I have a good feeling about its chances.
I know many people here have been through this before but to see this little bird struggle and make it out was incredible. It was really a gret feeling to know that the first thing that it saw (if they can even see when they hatch) was me. Tonight has been a cool night.
To make a long story short this was an active chick with no way out from what I saw. I could have left it to struggle all night and maybe not make it but opted to help remove enough of the membrane for it to break free. Once I got it loosened the chick popped out peeping and flailing like crazy. I lost a chick last week when I helped it out but this one is so strong that I have a good feeling about its chances.
I know many people here have been through this before but to see this little bird struggle and make it out was incredible. It was really a gret feeling to know that the first thing that it saw (if they can even see when they hatch) was me. Tonight has been a cool night.