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Tim, if it's any help to you, I rescued one of my last hatch that wasn't able to make it out on her own. The humidity had suddenly dropped and she was getting shrink wrapped in her own shell. I only later discovered that I had a small leak in the reservoir of the incubator and that was what had caused the sudden drop in humidity, just as she was hatching out. She was the last one in that batch and I thought she could make it on her own. After about 12 hours or so, and not being able to get the humidity back up well enough, I finally pulled her out, placed her in front of my little space heater and started working on her. I used a spray bottle of warm water [about the same temp you would prepare baby formula at] and hosed her down so to speak. Not so much as to drown her, but just enough to loosen up the inner membrane and give her a chance.
I put her back in the incubator and watched for a couple more hours, but by that time it was apparent to me that she had used up all of the energy she had just in zipping her shell. So, I took her back out and worked at pulling the top off of her shell. I was most concerned about hitting one of those veins you hear about from other people who have had similar situations.
I was scared half to death that I'd accidentally cut through one of those and the poor thing would bleed to death right there in my hands. I finally got up the nerve when I figured, either I take that chance and she dies in the effort, or I leave her alone and she dies anyway. Long story short, I got her out and she was just as right as rain ever after that. She ate well and thrived. Today, she's a cherished little hen living with friends down the road, along with her other two hatch mates. [only 3 of the 9 eggs I had set ever made it in that hatch.
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The moral to the story, if there is one, is never underestimate the will to survive. Even if they have a few set backs on account of their misadventures in hatching, give them the benefit of the doubt and help them. Chickens are incredibly tough little animals. Given just a half of a chance they can surprise the daylights out of ya!
I hope the eggs that are yet to hatch get busy and come bouncing into the world! The world NEEDS more Dels!!!!
Come on babies!!! Come on out! Time to rise and shine!!! Good luck Tim, and be sure to keep us posted!
