Frantic mum

[di]

Loads of gloopy stuff doesn't sound too good...or could it be from the yolk sac?

When we had probs with humidity and just two surviving unhatched chicks,I wrapped them in a warm wrung out flannel(you need to get as much moisture as you can out of it first)...it really helped to soften the shell.
Now that it's pipped yet maybe not quite ready to hatch I'd try to make sure and keep the pip hole damp around the edges...I periodicaly wiped mine with a cotton bud dipped in warm water(tip from a grape)

Like Nicos,if it does survive I think you should try to get at least one day old chick to keep it company...not just for it's benefit now but to also make introducing it to other hens a little easier.x

[julesapple]

Sheena,

We will be leaving tomorrow morning for my Mum's. Saturday & Sunday we'll be here

Stanwick Lakes… a breath of fresh air

from daft o'clock in the morning until about 6pm as we're the organisers of the weekend craft fair.

Do you still want the six eggs? You're more than welcome if you can collect them as I have miscalculated how many large eggs our bator can take (and I got a gold star for my 6 times tables years ago....what a waste) as we're going to have one last go at hatching for this year.

No matter if you don't need them, just didn't want to jiggle them about in the car if they aren't needed now. Let me know hun!

Jules

[sheena]

Now that it's pipped yet maybe not quite ready to hatch I'd try to make sure and keep the pip hole damp around the edges

Errr, it's a gaping great big hole, I can see the veins around the inside of the shell. If you think about how you would chop the top of an egg to dip soldiers, you'll be on the right path.
Chick still moving about, just either being stubborn or not ready.

Sheena,

Do you still want the six eggs?

Jules

Yes plz Jules, I'm thinking the bigger the numbers the better chance I have.
My incy holds 30 eggs, although I only started with 23 for this hatch... hopefully i'll have better odds next time round.

[julesapple]

Ok I'll pack up the eggs in their polybox for you. When you get to Stanwick I'll be in the function room where the fair is.

If you've made quite a big hole, then the chick will hatch itself eventually. Tip the shell slightly so any excess gloopy drains out and doesn't clog his beak.

Jules

[Nicos]

Nicos, you wanna be glad you aren't married to me. .

Urrmm- I think me hubby would object!!!

[Nicos]

Errr, it's a gaping great big hole, I can see the veins around the inside of the shell. .

.....just keep an eye on the membrane...if it dries to the feathers the chick can't move.
Tricky stage
...been there

[sheena]

Urrmm- I think me hubby would object!!!

*Giggles*

.....just keep an eye on the membrane...if it dries to the feathers the chick can't move.
Tricky stage
...been there

I do keep checking, still moving about and not drying out from what I can see.
I'll be happy if he/she pulls through, it'll add another Ixworth to the apparently dying breed from what I have read.

Got everything crossed x

[jessmorris]

Oh Sheena, I do hope the little 'un pulls through....inspired by your 'pipping' I have pipped all my remaining eggs and guess what, not one of them was fertile/had developed at all! So either she didn't warm them enough for them to develop, or they weren't fertile - so don't forget its not all down to us, the eggs can be infertile to start with, or our hens rubbish broodies. Hope this encourages you a bit and you are not too downhearted. I have lil' Lazarus and you may have your Ixworth chick.....
Hope you have some luck with your new eggs.
J

[julesapple]

Oh Sheena, I do hope the little 'un pulls through....inspired by your 'pipping' I have pipped all my remaining eggs and guess what, not one of them was fertile/had developed at all! So either she didn't warm them enough for them to develop, or they weren't fertile - so don't forget its not all down to us, the eggs can be infertile to start with, or our hens rubbish broodies. Hope this encourages you a bit and you are not too downhearted. I have lil' Lazarus and you may have your Ixworth chick.....
Hope you have some luck with your new eggs.
J

Oh Jess, poor you. Sounds like the cockerel didn't do his bit. Will you try again?

Jules

[jessmorris]

I will Jules, but not with a barbu d'uccle as the broody! Don't know if they're all fidgety, absent minded, egg abandoning individuals but Connie was rubbish!! And as for chucking a live chick from the nest and pecking at it - unspeakable!....I will candle the eggs next time as well - at least then I would only have been expecting one to hatch, and spared myself all this angst. Poor little Laz, he's no-one to snuggle up to 'cept his bony hard feathered foster ma!

Thanks for thoughts.

J
PS I'm assuming the eggs were infertile, the yolk was orange and seemed to be mixed in with the white. There was no veining or any sign of chicks at all, however small. Its the first duff lot I've had out of four - 5/6, 2/3, 8/9, 1/6 (small sample tho'!)

[sheena]

Well today would effectively be day 24, and chick is still moving and beak is opening and closing, but no cheeping.

I can see the umbilical cord, and the membrane is still intact.
Question is, how much longer should I wait before freeing him/her from the membrane?
Not to mention that I don't feel confident about doing it, I don't want to destroy another life if I can help it.

Would it help if I took a pic of the chick in the egg so I can get a step by step instruction of what to do? I don't want to create a horror scene for those who are squeamish (me included).

[jessmorris]

You're now way beyond my knowledge base I'm afraid! Good luck though.
J

[RichmondHens]

What's the latest on the chick?

[sheena]

Still alive, i've kept the temp (37C) and humidity (85%) stable and he/she is still fighting.

What do you recommend I do RH?

[Nicos]

Yikes- I don't know what to suggest to be honest.

I did help two of my chicks out of their shell- one had spraddle leg- and the other still had it's yolk sac attatched.
The second one ended up with an umbilical hernia- which eventually disappeared....but I was worried the other chooks would think it was a raisin stuck to it's bottom and peck it to death. (She's fine now.)


My gut feeling would be that the chick is still absorbing it's yolk sack- and presumably has access to some air????...so it would eventually escape from the remaining shell pretty soon.
Just give it another day before helping it out.
As soon as the membrane is torn it'll start to dry out. Do you think it has got enough air????

day 25 sees to be a common hatching day for a few of us!

...of course- I'm no expert here...Oh I''d hate to be in your situation...but remember-in real life it'd be survival of the fittest !