Membrane is drying on hatching chicks! Help!

[silkieluver_07]

I seem to be running into problems lately. Some of the chicks that are trying to hatch have unabsorbed yolks. I'm guessing this is from my temperature spike earlier.

The air sac/membrane is drying around the chicks and they can't peck out. Should I add more water? I've never had this problem before.

Good news is that we have 4 chicks and 5-6 still pipping!

 

[Msbear]

You need more humidity. Add more water immediately. and a warm washcloth around the egg temporarily til you rhumidity gets up

 

[hatchaholic]

How long have the eggs been pipped? If it's been a considerable amount of time (mine was over 24 hours), you may want to decide whether you want to intervene and help, or not.

If you look under the sticky post in Incubating & Hatching Eggs, there are some good posts about whether to intervene with the hatching, and if you do, how to go about it.

I just hatched 8 chicks out and I had to help 2 out because the membrane had dried out around them. Both seem to be doing okay; however, one has curled toes and is not walking very well. Not sure if that one will make it or not.

It is a personal decision as to whether you want to intervene or not.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Thanks guys. I'll do that immediately.

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

I put those on a damp sponge.

 

[hatchaholic]

Ms. Lewis Rich :

I put those on a damp sponge.

I didn't know what to do during my first hatch, so I'm trying to learn for the next one. If you put it/them on a damp sponge, will that increase the humidity too high for the remaining eggs? (Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I have lots to learn...)​

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

Yes it can bring it up too much, I just use it as a last ditch effort with the last having trouble hatching. then I go in and help them . out and that can be a mistake or you can get a chick that was just to large or turned the other way.

 

[silkieluver_07]

I helped two of the chicks by picking some of the membrane away. They wouldn't have made it if I didn't help them. I laid them on a damp cloth since we dont have a sponge.

Please pray that they make it!

 

[hatchaholic]

SL - I hope they make it. That is so frustrating to watch. For me, the two I had to help took all the fun out of the hatch. I was so worried about them, I couldn't enjoy the healthy ones.

I hope you have a great outcome.

 

[Msbear]

Sounds like you got it all under control Nice job, Momma