I went outside a few hours ago to feed and check on the chickens. I couldn't help but look under my broodies to see how everything was going when I saw it!
It was cracked, I'm pretty sure by accident or maybe the chick did pip? Either way, the membrane was dry and shell was missing in a nice 1/4" circle. The membrane is still intact though with what appeared to be a tiny but sealed up rip. I didn't see any blood veining in the membrane either. I thought it was a goner. However, just incase I wet my finger and wet the membrane to see the chick was in fact still moving pretty strong inside!!!
So I've dabbed it lightly with water a few times now and I'm debating on what to do to try to save this chick!
I do NOT have an incubator so that is not an option. These were due to hatch on Friday of this week.... so they are close to full term. Should I continue to go out randomly and wet the membrane and pray... or is there a simple set up I can do in the house with a light and maybe a warm wet towel to get it to the hatch date?! Or should I just let it go.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to save this egg if I can.
I still don't know how it happened unless it slammed into another egg under the hen really hard. (It looks nothing like an egg eater attack on my hatching eggs I had several months ago.)
It was cracked, I'm pretty sure by accident or maybe the chick did pip? Either way, the membrane was dry and shell was missing in a nice 1/4" circle. The membrane is still intact though with what appeared to be a tiny but sealed up rip. I didn't see any blood veining in the membrane either. I thought it was a goner. However, just incase I wet my finger and wet the membrane to see the chick was in fact still moving pretty strong inside!!!
So I've dabbed it lightly with water a few times now and I'm debating on what to do to try to save this chick!
I do NOT have an incubator so that is not an option. These were due to hatch on Friday of this week.... so they are close to full term. Should I continue to go out randomly and wet the membrane and pray... or is there a simple set up I can do in the house with a light and maybe a warm wet towel to get it to the hatch date?! Or should I just let it go.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to save this egg if I can.
I still don't know how it happened unless it slammed into another egg under the hen really hard. (It looks nothing like an egg eater attack on my hatching eggs I had several months ago.)
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