Undead in shell issue

[FarmerTony]

The last few hatches I've gotten a couple eggs that did not hatch out, but that had live chicks in them. On opening them after the due date I found that the chick was essentially alive, but looked like it was too large for the egg and was cramped and twisted around on itself. I felt bad throwing it to the hogs, but it was obviously not going to survive.

Is this natures way of trying to grow a larger chicken? Granted hybrid vigor is a factor, I'm using a Sussex rooster and red sex link hens, and one very dominant barred rock 'Momma Hen'. I think they are from the RSL's as none of them have been black so far.

 

[GitaBooks]

Poor little guy. I'm sorry to hear that.

Likely it wasn't the size that was the issue. I've seen chicks completely crammed into an egg do fine, though sometimes need a little assistance. Even my bantam x standard mixes do fine in their eggs. However, some chicks, small or big, do have congenital defects that lead them to being too weak to hatch.

Also, chicks that are assisted tend to look far weaker then chicks that used their muscles to hatch. It can take them a few days to strengthen up, sometimes needing some electrolyte x vitamin water. I hold them a lot to help them stretch their legs and use their muscles without hurting themselves. After a couple days they are usually as good as normal.

I hope this helps.