Thought the egg was a dud.. its alive!! Help!!

[TheRookie]

My broody had 12 eggs to start with. Three got eaten and one disappeared, leaving her with eight. Well when the others hatched, I moved her out to the tractor where she will live with them untill they are old enough not to need heat. I was cleaning out the dog cage she hatched in, and found the egg that had disappeared. It was in a totally different are from the rest of her eggs and I knew it hadnt been moved recently so I figured it was a dud... well after cracking it partway open, I realized that it was moving!!! So somehow it developed but there is still a lot of fluid in the egg and from what I can tell (never seen an egg hatch before) hes not totally developed and ready to hatch. The momma wants nothing to do with him so Im on my own... I know to keep the membrane from drying out but other than that,what else could I do? Or is this a lost cause since I accidentally tore the membrane before I realized it wasnt a dud?

 

[tadpole98]

do u have an incubatro?
If not then make one:
Light dimmer
styrofoam cooler
thermomter
water
and light

put light in through top and heat up the bator till its 99 F
do anyting to keep chick warmish until its preheated
Good luck

 

[bobbieschicks]

Some women tuck the eggs into their bras to keep them moist and warm. Temporarily of course.

 

[Happy Camper]

Oh noooo!!! This is not good... You may want to put it in a box behind your fridge to be warm enough till you make the bator... hope everythings turns ok... you can only do so much... It would have been dead by now if you hadn't notice so you are already doing a lot.

 

[TheRookie]

I dont have one and I cant go out and get one cause my moms not home. I have a heat lamp and thats about it..

 

[Happy Camper]

My chicken "mentor" (he has 30+ yrs experience) does this all the time...

He just puts the unhatched eggs in a shoebox and places it behind the fridge where it is warm, and he walks away.... forgets about it...
Last time he put four. Three hatched seven days after the ones that hatched in the nest and the last one a couple days later.

I'd do that if I was you (since you don't have many other options right now) and put a little cup of water inside the box to increase humidity (my mentor does not even do that)...and wait...

Please keep us posted...

 

[RoyalPayne]

Heating pad? Humans are 98.6, you need 99, so med setting. scrunch washcloth into loose ball, then place on pad, then another scrunched washcoloth with small divot on top of first cloth. Then the egg in the divot. All this in a very small box, or plastic bin, or anyother partially covered container. I'm worried about the moisture. I'd wrap the egg in gause, wet gauze. and keep it moist. plus maybe a small bowl with more water in it. I've never heard of too much moisture for eggs, unless you're drowning it. And the temp? Don't know if a thermometer will register ambiant temps, but put one in there anyhow. Maybe on the pad? So you can tell how warm it gets, and then maybe the air. That's all I can think of, good luck.

 

[Happy Camper]

Well you could use a heat lamp too, I guess but would have to make sure you don't have drafts and other things change temperature too much... Also make sure you don't cause a heat lamp that is in contact with cardboard or other materials to start a fire accidently. Be safe...

 

[TheRookie]

Thanks guys, Im testing the mother one last time since its dark, to see if she will take it but if she doesnt, I'll try these ideas. If it hatches and does okay, Im naming it Miracle.