- Jun 13, 2012
- 33
- 2
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Our hen killed three chicks upon hatching, so we took the remaining six eggs away from her. One was cracked but I wasn't sure why, so I made a small hole in it to see. There was a chick. I did the float test with the other six and five are alive, one is a dud. We have no incubator and weren't prepared for this so we have them in a box with a 60-watt bulb and damp towels. The temp is at 95 degrees F but I'm sure it isn't humid enough. I made a larger hole a few hours later so there was a small hole free of membrane, which was beginning to dry. After 30 hours of the chick making no progress and the membrane drying, I decided to zip the shell because I didn't want the chick to become shrink-wrapped. After another three hours and the membrane hardening, I took the end-cap of shell off and allowed it to hatch on its own the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the yolk sac didn't absorb, and there are some red veins on the inside of the shell. It hasn't stood but would like to. It is in a separate box but the temperature hasn't stabilized yet. Should I try to keep it alive? Is there anything I can do to improve its chance of survival?

