Please Help me...day 19 and the egg is cracked.

[WyoChickenMamma]

Went to check on my broodies this morning and found this egg. She is at day 19 with them. I think it looks like it has been stepped on and a piece of the shell is missing. I candled it and could still see a bit of movement. I put it back under her for now. Do you think it will survive? My heart is just broken thinking about how it made it so far and now might be a goner.

Sorry for the picture quality, I was upset and trying to be fast didn't let my cell focus very well.

 

[Jacobnlynn]

Nothing you can do either way.. it either will hatch or won't. Leave it under the hen.. it has the best chance with her.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

No body knows better then the hen. If she can't save it nobody can. But it should be developed by now and if the membrane was broken, it has a chance.

 

[FenDruadin]

I've seen worse egg "injuries" with very successful hatches. I once dropped a glass measuring cup onto an egg in the incubator, leaving a giant dent in the air cell section. That sucker hatched out quicker than any of the others. As long as the inner membrane is in tact, it should be fine. If the mother rejects it, I would take it inside and keep it inside my shirt (lol) or wherever I can keep it closest to 98-99 degrees until it hatches. But if she'll sit on it, then let it be.

Good luck!

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

Thanks for the replies. I thought putting it back under her was the best thing too. I guess the next few days will tell. I have stressed over these two broodies so much over the past three weeks, Our coop set up is not the best for brooding and when I tried to move them they freaked out and wouldn't stay with the eggs. So they are in the general population and the other hens, some of which are larger New Hampshire Reds insist on laying in those boxes. My dear sweet Rosa is the lowest on the pecking order and when one comes to that box, she just moves out of the way and lets them in on her eggs. Everyday I collect at least 3-4 eggs that are not her hatching eggs. It is so frustrating. I am going to have to move them after they hatch and if she rejects that idea, I guess they can go in a brooder. Both of my broodies are in boxes that are at least 4 feet off the ground...not very well situated for babies.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

Well I went down a bit ago to collect eggs and she was off the nest again..there were 2 other hens in there and one was trying to break that egg open. It was open all the way through the membrane and it was bleeding. Now my broody is so distraught she wont go back in the nest. I moved her other eggs under the other broody that is at the top of the pecking order and she took them quite readily. I am just so broken hearted and feel so bad for letting this happen in the first place.

 

[FenDruadin]

Awww. Mother nature is brutal sometimes. You can't blame yourself--stuff happens. It's a toss-up either way.

It's possible the baby could still make it. Put it in a warm, moist location (wrapped partly in moist paper towels if possible, with room for it to breathe) and let it sit. It may make it yet. If not, it's still better off than if it had been in the wild.

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

Awww. Mother nature is brutal sometimes. You can't blame yourself--stuff happens. It's a toss-up either way.

It's possible the baby could still make it. Put it in a warm, moist location (wrapped partly in moist paper towels if possible, with room for it to breathe) and let it sit. It may make it yet. If not, it's still better off than if it had been in the wild.

Thanks for the kind words. The chick has already expired. But it has been a good learning experience and I (we) will know better next time. I am sure this won't be the last time I lose a chick. I do agree with you, mother nature is in charge here and we are just active bystanders really.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

Well I went down a bit ago to collect eggs and she was off the nest again..there were 2 other hens in there and one was trying to break that egg open. It was open all the way through the membrane and it was bleeding. Now my broody is so distraught she wont go back in the nest. I moved her other eggs under the other broody that is at the top of the pecking order and she took them quite readily. I am just so broken hearted and feel so bad for letting this happen in the first place.

Sorry to hear that. My advice to you is this. When you find which of your hens are the strongest brooders, only use them to hatch eggs. Some hens really stink at hatching eggs, other do okay, but some will be great. I had one hen when I lived in the Amazon (that's where the Jungle Explorer name comes from) that consistently had a 100% hatch rate and a 90% chick survival to adult hood rate free ranging in the Amazon Jungle. I personally saw her tackle (and rip tail feather out of) two hawks in mid air that were swooping down on her chicks. I twenty year of raising free range chickens, I have never had another hen like her, but I have had some that were close.

 

[Heath51937]

It’s day 19, and I came home to find an egg pushed out to the far edge of the nest (she never let me move her of the clutch!) it was bleeding and covered in ants. I’m not certain if it’s the same egg that had a pinhole size hole last night or another. And while it bled on my hand, I swear I still saw beating/breathing but it stopped before I could look a third time.
I’m just heart broken! We got SO close... and an egg that looks pecked from outside. Sorrow