She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WalnutHill]

The chick died overnight.



In case you can't make it out, the head is in the top left quarter. It was a mal-position since its head is not under its wing. The chick was in this position when the internal membrane was intact, it's only movement was to open and close its beak, and it's belly moved as it's heart beated (or it breathed).

So to answer your question, as I tried to peel the shell back there was more than a little blood. It was far more than there should have been if it were merely remnants in the membrane.

Unfortunately, I totally failed to consider what the moisture inside the remaining shell was going to do...namely, cement the chick in place. If I'd have considered that last night I might have gone ahead as @WalnutHill suggested...but as @scflock rightly pointed out, I'm not sure why I was giving this guy so long in the first place. I can only say that when I did the float test and saw this one egg moving so much, it seemed like a good opportunity to look into assisting. Sucks that I failed, but it was at least instructional.

Thanks for all the advice.

Sorry that it didn't make it. I've become quite experienced at assisted hatching thanks to my crossbred turkeys, but even so I lose some with too early or too late an assist, or with moisture control.

I used to advocate using a moist paper towel around the shell to help retain moisture but I found that in a forced air incubator, this causes a chilling effect that can also kill the chick. I do think the inner membrane may have dried a bit overmuch after the shell was breached, and for that, so long as there is an internal pip, I use a petroleum based antibiotic ointment and swab it on the membrane. It will preserve the existing moisture nicely.

I don't know why that chick had such prominent blood vessels at that time and stage. I am sorry for the loss of the chick but as you said, you do gain new insight and perhaps the next time you have a challenged one you'll have a better outcome.

 

[RubyNala97]

So....day 10 candle is not good....I wonder if I should have left them in the auto turner. I had 5 eggs that looked viable on day 7 candle... I check again today and out of those 5 only 1 looks good!!! I am so angry right now. It better hatch as a hen...or I am going to be p***ed! (Crested cream legbar)

What happened to the eggs? They look like they stopped developing or you can't see movement??

 

[rossfam06]

What happened to the eggs? They look like they stopped developing or you can't see movement??

All the veining gone and no more movement noticed. I think....its from my manual turning....is there a certain way you turn the eggs?

 

[WVduckchick]

All the veining gone and no more movement noticed. I think....its from my manual turning....is there a certain way you turn the eggs?

How has your temp and humidity been?

 

[RubyNala97]

Different colours of marans. I had to remove a bit of membrane because the first one was malpositioned. Pipped way below the air cell. It can now breath.

I just had one like that except is was a peafowl egg. Please update, I'm curious to see if it makes progress on its own. I waited 24 hours then assisted.

I've never dealt with coyotes with my chickens, but I have had foxes. The way the foxes were gotten rid of is this: a spotlight was set up by the coop. The person (not putting names) sat in a chair behind it so they wouldn't be seen. When The cat (who thinks she is a chicken) got tense and her haired raised up, person knew the fox was there and shot it. End of story. It worked.
Hope you catch your critter! Btw, guinea eggs I personally think taste better than chicken eggs. I've never had guinea meat, tho.

I liked this story! I saw the whole thing in my head. Good to know a way to get a predator!

I used to advocate using a moist paper towel around the shell to help retain moisture but I found that in a forced air incubator, this causes a chilling effect that can also kill the chick.  

Yes!!! I've noticed this. The paper towel gets freezing cold almost instantly and then makes the humidity in the incubator skyrocket to 100%. I was not a fan of the paper towel last time!

All the veining gone and no more movement noticed. I think....its from my manual turning....is there a certain way you turn the eggs?

What color are the eggs? I'm thinking there's a red ring in there that may be hard to see. I hand turn all my eggs (no auto turner) x & o, just twist from one side to the other.

 

[chicapee]

The chick died overnight. In case you can't make it out, the head is in the top left quarter. It was a mal-position since its head is not under its wing. The chick was in this position when the internal membrane was intact, it's only movement was to open and close its beak, and it's belly moved as it's heart beated (or it breathed). So to answer your question, as I tried to peel the shell back there was more than a little blood. It was far more than there should have been if it were merely remnants in the membrane. Unfortunately, I totally failed to consider what the moisture inside the remaining shell was going to do...namely, cement the chick in place. If I'd have considered that last night I might have gone ahead as @WalnutHill suggested...but as @scflock rightly pointed out, I'm not sure why I was giving this guy so long in the first place. I can only say that when I did the float test and saw this one egg moving so much, it seemed like a good opportunity to look into assisting. Sucks that I failed, but it was at least instructional. Thanks for all the advice.

Oh dear, that is a shame. But as you say it was also a valuable learning experience. Best of luck with the babies that made it.

 

[chicapee]

I just had one like that except is was a peafowl egg. Please update, I'm curious to see if it makes progress on its own. I waited 24 hours then assisted.
I liked this story! I saw the whole thing in my head. Good to know a way to get a predator!

woke up this morning to the same scenario, baby is still peeping, but stronger. I am using the 2nd pip that is in the the correct place in the air cell that pipped at approximately the same time as a Guage from pip to zip. She is still moving around and peeping. Humidity is 71%. Must be completing last minute absorb tin preparations. Day 21 doesn't start until 530pm. And mine usually hatch exactly on day 21.

 

[RubyNala97]

This came up on another thread and I thought I would ask here since I greatly respect the opinions around here. Do you routinely "worm" your chickens? Why or why not?

 

[silkiecuddles]

Ruby: thanks! But, I was not the one doing the shooting, FYI.

 

[RubyNala97]

woke up this morning to the same scenario, baby is still peeping, but stronger. I am using the 2nd pip that is in the the correct place in the air cell that pipped at approximately the same time as a Guage from pip to zip. She is still moving around and peeping. Humidity is 71%. Must be completing last minute absorb tin preparations. Day 21 doesn't start until 530pm. And mine usually hatch exactly on day 21.

As long as it can get oxygen, that's a great idea to follow the other correct pip!! I actually waited longer then 24 hrs. Because I don't know exactly when the pip happened, I woke up to it. So it was about 26 hrs from when I noticed it. I started by making an artificial zip line. My chick could not push out at all. So I ended up taking half the egg off and letting him rest. Then just sliding him out of the egg. His umbilical cord was stuck to the shell. After a couple hours, I just cut it. Good luck!!