Membrane looks brown peeping and movement has stopped help!

[MageofMist]

I know the terror of trying to help chicks out of their eggs. I had to assist silkie chickens and button quails hatch and the quail eggs, being so small, are even scarier to assist. Doesn't help that my hands shake like a jackhammer when nervous!Luckily I have also had a good assist ratio despite this.

From what I see, you have had very good luck in the assists and are doing very well, I also have had humidity drops in my incubator at times when eggs are hatching and pipped and am always like "Whyyy! You are meant to be at 70%, not 40%!"

Even the hen isn't guaranteed to keep the humidity up as she left her nest for a poop break right as her eggs were hatching! Twice! I had to assist the ones that had already pipped, one who looked like she wouldn't make it and looked pretty much dead for about an hour before eventually perking up, but is now a strong healthy hen. I plopped the rest in the incubator to hatch where they were more stable and later returned them to their mum when they were all fluffed up.

She didn't accept back her first batch and so I raised them, but on her second batch, she rolled the offered chick under her as if it was an egg!

 

[K.Riggs]

I know the terror of trying to help chicks out of their eggs. I had to assist silkie chickens and button quails hatch and the quail eggs, being so small, are even scarier to assist. Doesn't help that my hands shake like a jackhammer when nervous!Luckily I have also had a good assist ratio despite this.

From what I see, you have had very good luck in the assists and are doing very well, I also have had humidity drops in my incubator at times when eggs are hatching and pipped and am always like "Whyyy! You are meant to be at 70%, not 40%!"

Even the hen isn't guaranteed to keep the humidity up as she left her nest for a poop break right as her eggs were hatching! Twice! I had to assist the ones that had already pipped, one who looked like she wouldn't make it and looked pretty much dead for about an hour before eventually perking up, but is now a strong healthy hen. I plopped the rest in the incubator to hatch where they were more stable and later returned them to their mum when they were all fluffed up.

She didn't accept back her first batch and so I raised them, but on her second batch, she rolled the offered chick under her as if it was an egg!

Thanks for your words, I just wish I knew what to do for the one absorbing yolk. He is still chirping away i wish I knew how long it will take and if his tummy will close etc. The one that died was dead already three quarters zipped. I never got a chance to assist so if the one still absorbing survives i'm two for two. I'd love if he did. How long should I give him to absorb. If he isn't going to wouldn't it be better to detach him and let his tummy heal before he gets an infection?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Thanks for your words, I just wish I knew what to do for the one absorbing yolk. He is still chirping away i wish I knew how long it will take and if his tummy will close etc. The one that died was dead already three quarters zipped. I never got a chance to assist so if the one still absorbing survives i'm two for two. I'd love if he did. How long should I give him to absorb. If he isn't going to wouldn't it be better to detach him and let his tummy heal before he gets an infection?

just keep it moist, if it doesnt absorb fully its not a big deal
itll dry up and fall off BUT if this starts to happen make sure to keep a bandaid over it so that it cant get tugged on and pull out intestines

 

[K.Riggs]

just keep it moist, if it doesnt absorb fully its not a big deal
itll dry up and fall off BUT if this starts to happen make sure to keep a bandaid over it so that it cant get tugged on and pull out intestines

I am keeping it moist with damp paper towel on a saucer in the heat pad cave. It made it through the night. I removed the shell as it was nearly kicked off and was dried to a wing. It has a fair bit of yolk it is still intact. He is curled up sleeping. I will just keep checking him and moistening the towel every hour or so. I really hope he survives I should have left him a bit longer before helping but when the other one was dead at the 24 HR mark I didn't want to leave him longer than 20 hrs when he stopped moving and peeping. Oh well i will learn from this I just really hope I get at least one of the seven hatch if this one does die. I don't want the survivor to be alone.

 

[K.Riggs]

OK update!

He had absorbed all the yolk just a yucky blob of membrane left. He was kicking so violently and active that I was worried he would pull on his belly button. So I performed surgery. Dental floss tourniquet tied off tight and snipped with sterile scissors. I gave him electrolytes and applied bactroban ointment and he is back in to fluff up and warm up. I think he might just have a chance! I have been awake with him over 24 hours now.

 

[Josh L.]

OK update!

He had absorbed all the yolk just a yucky blob of membrane left. He was kicking so violently and active that I was worried he would pull on his belly button. So I performed surgery. Dental floss tourniquet tied off tight and snipped with sterile scissors. I gave him electrolytes and applied bactroban ointment and he is back in to fluff up and warm up. I think he might just have a chance! I have been awake with him over 24 hours now.
View attachment 1151904 View attachment 1151905

I'm late but good job! He looks healthy and well developed, too! With the way he's sitting, though, I'd keep an eye on his legs (although he could easily grow out of sitting like that, he could have a problem with them.)

 

[K.Riggs]

I'm late but good job! He looks healthy and well developed, too! With the way he's sitting, though, I'd keep an eye on his legs (although he could easily grow out of sitting like that, he could have a problem with them.)

The other one was the same the first day now he is like this.

The one in question can stand up tall but not for long I think he is just weak right now he seems to be just starting to get stronger though.

I know he is on his legs a bit but I have seen him stretch up onto his feet to preen his chest?

Can you tell me exactly what to look for? Are you suggesting slipped tendon? And what do I do. I have given this guy my all to save him I will try what ever I have to if he has a problem.

Also his tummy is much better I snipped the dental floss off really close.

 

[Josh L.]

The other one was the same the first day now he is like this.






View attachment 1152045

The one in question can stand up tall but not for long I think he is just weak right now he seems to be just starting to get stronger though. View attachment 1152049

I know he is on his legs a bit but I have seen him stretch up onto his feet to preen his chest?

Can you tell me exactly what to look for? Are you suggesting slipped tendon? And what do I do. I have given this guy my all to save him I will try what ever I have to if he has a problem.

Also his tummy is much better I snipped the dental floss off really close.View attachment 1152050

I'm thinking he could have possibly hurt his legs when kicking aggressively earlier. If he doesn't grow out of sitting like that in ~3-4 days, I would try to stretch his toes out and see if stretching his legs (gently of course) causes any strange responses (obvious pain, panicked peeping, immediate recoil, etc). Obviously he wont like you playing with his little feet, but it shouldn't be a pain response. If it is, I would use a splint on him similar to the one you'd use on splayed-leg chicks. It would probably heal on its own if you get to that point and aren't confident in your abilities, but he might end up with a mild limp.
Basically, wait it out for a bit, sitting like that is most likely just him getting used to having legs and using them, and if his condition improves and he no longer folds his toes and/or uses his legs as support then you'll know it was just due (most likely) to hatching prematurely. If it doesn't get better, i would find the leg brace/splint forum page, but don't jump to it immediately, give him a few days, let him try to figure out how to walk properly on his own.
Also, the first chick looks fantastic! He seems very healthy, and has fluffed up very nicely!

 

[K.Riggs]

I'm thinking he could have possibly hurt his legs when kicking aggressively earlier. If he doesn't grow out of sitting like that in ~3-4 days, I would try to stretch his toes out and see if stretching his legs (gently of course) causes any strange responses (obvious pain, panicked peeping, immediate recoil, etc). Obviously he wont like you playing with his little feet, but it shouldn't be a pain response. If it is, I would use a splint on him similar to the one you'd use on splayed-leg chicks. It would probably heal on its own if you get to that point and aren't confident in your abilities, but he might end up with a mild limp.
Basically, wait it out for a bit, sitting like that is most likely just him getting used to having legs and using them, and if his condition improves and he no longer folds his toes and/or uses his legs as support then you'll know it was just due (most likely) to hatching prematurely. If it doesn't get better, i would find the leg brace/splint forum page, but don't jump to it immediately, give him a few days, let him try to figure out how to walk properly on his own.
Also, the first chick looks fantastic! He seems very healthy, and has fluffed up very nicely!

Thanks so much i shall follow your advice

 

[Josh L.]

Thanks so much i shall follow your advice

You're welcome! I'm happy to help. Rough hatches are always scary. Any more pips on the other eggs?