Please Help! loose air cell, under broody, 9 days til hatch. What now?

[UrbanFarmerGirl]

Any advice would be appreciated. I just have 4 backyard chickens and this is my first attempt at hatching eggs- I am clueless... and so far just trusting that the Mamma hen will take care of things.

I ordered 9 eggs from MPC. (3 silkies, 3 Silver Spangled Hamburgs, 3 EEs). They sent me one extra SSH. All except the EEs had loose air cells, and looked a little "sloshy" inside- but I put everything under the broody hen. Candled on day 4- all EEs plus 1 SSH were growing. Today is day 12, and I can see veins, movement, and growth continuing in all 4. The others all ended up being scrambled- and I mean REALLY scrambled, with the yolk and white mixed together and zero development. I removed them today, so now she just has the viable ones.

The EEs look really stable, but the little SSH egg still quivers when I candle it and the air cell looks very wobbly. I keep reading about how you need to put it in an incubator with the big end up, but I don't have an incubator, just a broody hen. And so far, it's been developing under her naturally. Should I do anything special as the hatch date gets closer? Will the little chick be able to get the air and make it out? Does anyone have experience with these under a broody hen?

 

[UrbanFarmerGirl]

Also- I am wondering if when it gets to be closer to the hatch date maybe I should try to prop it up with something like hay or a piece of egg carton while it is still under the hen- so that the big side is up.... but I am afraid of doing more harm than good. Any suggestions or input much appreciated.

 

[tay_boe]

I have no idea but I wanted to wish you luck!

 

[UrbanFarmerGirl]

Thanks! I was hoping someone would have info for me, but I suppose if not I will have an answer 9 days from now. I just feel bad if there is a simple way to help that I don't know about it.