Just a note to say I had to perform a c-section on chick #9, she had pipped a hole in the egg since 11am and I could see her struggle in there all day, beak not breaking through any more shell or membrane.
I gave her 8 hours and then when she was getting weaker, I could see her starting to get shrink-wrapped despite the 70% humidity in the bator and me misting the eggs every 15 minutes.
I took the egg out, put it on a clean cotton towel and cracked off bits of shell very gently, then peeled back bits of membrane. I hit blood, so put the egg back for 15 mins, she still couldn't make any progress and the bleeding had stopped, so I took her out again and removed enough shell to free her head and legs. Then back in the bator, egg on its side - poor thing was cold and exhausted, I didn't think she would make it.
After 30 mins, she kicked and kicked and broke free of the last egg, which was very wet and had blood - not like the other eggs which were dry inside. Umbilical cord fine, I immediately put her in with the other babies under the heat lamp so she could dry, she burrowed herself under the pile of chicks and seems to be doing fine now.
Whew. My only purebred... a buff orpington
I just hope she makes it as nothing is safe until they're all grown up!
