MALPOSITIONED CHICK - I’m freaking out

[LittleAussies]

I have 5 eggs due tomorrow, one pipped earlier this morning and has now hatched. A second one pipped shortly after the first but on the wrong side of the egg. This is my third hatch and this new to me. I’m trying to not freak out but I’m worried the chick doesn’t have access to any air. A small piece of eggshell has broken off but the membrane still looks to be covering the hole. Should I be worried about the chick having access to oxygen? I haven’t seen any movement for about 2 hours.

I tried to take a photo but the plastic of my incubator isn’t the best for viewing.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Just throwing out ideas here. I’ve never hatched chicks from an incubator. If you’re worried about oxygen then maybe poke through the membrane to give it oxygen. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

Before you poke through the membrane make sure there aren't any active blood vessels in the way before you do otherwise it will start bleeding in that won't be good hopefully more people with more experience will chime and good luck

 

[Shezadandy]

Have a good read through this article that has saved many chicks. Towards the bottom it has a guide to problems and how to handle them --- but I strongly recommend reading through the whole thing top to bottom-- I still do every time I've got eggs hatching, even years into it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

 

[LittleAussies]

I haven’t risked opening the incubator to get a better look as there are other eggs that have pipped. But I’m pretty sure it has broken through the membrane now and it can breathe so I’m going to relax now and hopefully the chick manages to get out on its own. Thanks for all the advice I just would be devasted if I lost a chick if there was something I could have done to help it.