I got up this morning ( day 21) to find two hatched chicks dead or dying right next to the mama. She had hatched 3 others and they were under her but these two had been pushed out or crawled out and she did nothing. I noticed one took a gasp and I rushed it into the house and set up a brooder quickly. I was able to save one of the two. I decided to take all the chicks in case she decided to leave them as well. She had 3 more eggs that had pipped. I took one more several hours later. We had to run to town and after being gone several hours, I returned to find the mama off the nest dusting and haveing a gay ole time. The last two eggs were cold but the poor chicks were alive and peeping up a storm. I took them in and set up a different brooder and placed them on a warm damp towel and cranked up the temp. I got them warmed up and decided to help the hatch as I felt sure they would not be in a good position to continue their progress after the shock of getting cold then being warmed. The membrane was very dry. I peeled the shell and left membrane, returned them for a while and them proceeded to peel some of the membrane back. They both finished the job of pushing out of the remaining shell and breaking thru the membrane. I think the damp towel did help moisten the membrane enough to help them finish. I hated to make the decision to do it but, I felt they were gonners if left. They are both dry now and peeping and sleeping. They have moved away from the light some so they seem to be moving ok. I will post pics of the babies in the morning. I hope I have Seven to show off.
