Stuck inside egg.

[jak2002003]

Today I had to help a chick out of its egg. This is the first time in many years this has happened.

They all hatched yesterday morning.. but this one egg was left and it has a small hole and I could see the beak and it was chirping. I left it under the hen.

Today all the other chicks are dried out, but the last egg still had not made any more progress than the morning before, and it was only chirping occasionally and very quietly.

I don't know if I did the right thing.. I started to pick the shell away slowly.. then I noticed that the chick was stuck in the membrane.. which had dried up in the half of the egg where the chicks head was. So I peeled off all the shell..

It was nasty.. it made me feel sick!!! The poor thing was totally wrapped up in the membrane and was so weak. I decided to peel off the membrane. It had gone rubbery and white in places. Only still moist near the chicks rear. I managed to get it all off slowly and carefully with my finger nails.

There was no blood and no bleeding. None of the feathers came off and the chick seems perfectly formed... by very weak. I put it straight back under the hen (who I know is a great mother). I am keeping an eye on her today.. if she leaves the nest to take the other chicks exploring I will make a brooder for this last one if its still alive.

I hope it recovers. I think I was very lucky just to get the right time. I read on here that too early and they will bleed to death.. and too late they get physically glued to the membrane and it rips their feather out.

I will let you know what happens.

 

[Wisher1000]

If it is really sticky, you may want to wash if off under tepid water and dry it before you put it under the hen. BE CAREFUL not to get any water on it's nostrils or beak. I have washed many a gooey chick, it will allow the fuzz to be fluffy and do it's job of insulating the peeper.

Good luck.

 

[jak2002003]

If it is really sticky, you may want to wash if off under tepid water and dry it before you put it under the hen. BE CAREFUL not to get any water on it's nostrils or beak. I have washed many a gooey chick, it will allow the fuzz to be fluffy and do it's job of insulating the peeper.

Good luck.

It was not sticky at all.. just damp. Actually quite dry. I think that was the problem for it hatching.

I have very good news and I feel over the moon!

This afternoon the little chick has dried out and looks lovely!!! He is very healthy, chirping and bright eyed and already trying to venture out of the nest like his older brothers and sisters.

He is HUGE compared to the other chicks. He has a big head and a hug fat butt lol. and he quite heavy compared to the others too.

He came from one of my Serama hens.. so the egg was very small. I think his father was the big white Japanese Bantam rooster. This chick has the short legs of the Japanese Bantams.

I will not use the Serama hens own eggs again.. as she is my only Serama and I think that could be a problem for future chicks hatching like that.

Now I am keeping fingers crossed he continues to do well.

 

[jak2002003]

Update

This morning the little fella is up and running about in the garden with the rest of its family. Its really healthy and strong. So glad I decided to help it out of the egg now.