Late hatch - assistance?

[Bluemonster107]

I would recommend not raising the humidity above 65%. High humidity can cause 'stuck' chicks, like the one you had to assist.
When the humidity is at saturation or close to it, it has an adverse effect on their ability to zip, causes them to become stuck, they can't turn to zip. This causes the curled toes, takes too long to get out of the shell.

Thanks for offering that info... to a newbie like me.. very helpful... as I figured that the higher humidity would be more beneficial and make the egg shell more “moist” and allow them to break out easier... I guess that was a wrong assumption. I have a bunch of reptiles and for them.. we bump up humidity to allow them to shed the dry skin easier... I applied that thought to the egg shell... guess that just isn’t the case... so many thanks!!! All of the extra info is so very helpful for the next time I hatch

 

[Bluemonster107]

Can you post a pic? I might be imagining something worse than it actually is, but I'd personally cull a chick with locomotion issues—such deformities typically become more pronounced with age.

Oh my gosh... this little guy is fast... tried to get a good pic.. and realized I was describing the wrong anatomy part.. yes.. feet curled.. like if no use... the “fused” part I should have been describing is like the ankle area... like it doesn’t have any “play” in it.. like trying to bend an actual bone.
So I assume that joint just didn’t grow right
(Tried to upload the video but doesn’t let me)

 

[007Sean]

Actually there are enzymes and hormonal changes to the membrane (inner and outer) that cause the membranes and the shell to harden and become thicker when the egg is laid. Then again, at the last few days of incubation they 'turn on' again to dissolve/ soften the membranes and the shell so the chick can cut through the membranes and the shell easier. It all depends on the CO2 build up inside the egg just before they pip, the CO2 causes the chick to spasm and jerks it's neck muscles in a fashion that pokes the hole in the membranes and the shell.
Raising the humidity is to keep the membranes from drying before the chick can get out of the shell. A broody can't raise the humidity but this is why they will not come off the nest when they begin hatching, until all have hatched. What little moisture is in the air and moisture from the hatching chicks is 'trapped' in her feathers, and doesn't have a breeze blowing on the eggs.
This is the reason why during artificial incubation the humidity is raised to a high % RH.
Too much info, I know

 

[Bluemonster107]

....
Too much info, I know

holy crap NO!! I love it!! Thank you so much for taking your time to explain ... it really made sense and giving reasons why parameters are set a certain way. Thank you again!! That is great info!!!

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Actually there are enzymes and hormonal changes to the membrane (inner and outer) that cause the membranes and the shell to harden and become thicker when the egg is laid. Then again, at the last few days of incubation they 'turn on' again to dissolve/ soften the membranes and the shell so the chick can cut through the membranes and the shell easier. It all depends on the CO2 build up inside the egg just before they pip, the CO2 causes the chick to spasm and jerks it's neck muscles in a fashion that pokes the hole in the membranes and the shell.
Raising the humidity is to keep the membranes from drying before the chick can get out of the shell. A broody can't raise the humidity but this is why they will not come off the nest when they begin hatching, until all have hatched. What little moisture is in the air and moisture from the hatching chicks is 'trapped' in her feathers, and doesn't have a breeze blowing on the eggs.
This is the reason why during artificial incubation the humidity is raised to a high % RH.
Too much info, I know

We all learn a lot every time you chime in! Keep giving us too much info.

 

[Bluemonster107]

What the what?!?! No way did I even believe what I saw....
so this morning I go in the room to change the fluff balls water and food and spot clean the little poop machines and lo and behold... my little handicapped chic (named em cielo... ) came out to say hi and his feet were actually normal!!!
I literally checked him like 4 times to make sure i wasn’t mixing him up with another bird!!! So his little leg that looked fused.. like underdeveloped.... just “developed” it’s self after hatch?!?! I am still in amazement!!!

 

[le_bwah]

What the what?!?! No way did I even believe what I saw....
so this morning I go in the room to change the fluff balls water and food and spot clean the little poop machines and lo and behold... my little handicapped chic (named em cielo... ) came out to say hi and his feet were actually normal!!!
I literally checked him like 4 times to make sure i wasn’t mixing him up with another bird!!! So his little leg that looked fused.. like underdeveloped.... just “developed” it’s self after hatch?!?! I am still in amazement!!!

They can uncurl, they just don't always. Two of my curly chicks folded out okay, the other one had bent toes well into adulthood.

 

[DK newbie]

Yeah, I experienced the same as le_bwah - sometimes the feet just fix themselves. Sometimes they don't (even with treatment). Though in my case the "don't's" ended up dying at a few days of age..