Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[meezers]

4th chick is still not hatched. This time yesterday there was just a star shaped crack, yesterday afternoon , a hole about the size of a 1p piece, and it's still the same this morning. I can see the chick through the hole, it's cheeping and moving, but no progress as yet.

I'm a little worried as chick no.1 is now 48 hours old, and the other 2 are 24 hours old. Muppet is obviously not leaving the nest while chickie is still hatching, so I've put the chick crumb next to her, I've seen the other chicks eating . Muppet herself has not had anything to drink since thursday afternoon, when I lifted her off the nest ( 1st chick hatched friday morning), I've not seen her eat either. It was so hot yesterday she was panting, I offered her a dish of water ( holding it out the way of the chicks ) but she wouldn't drink, I've tried giving her sweetcorn and soggy bread, just to get some fluid into her, but she just drops it for the chicks

If this chick doesn't hatch in the next few hours what should I do ? I'm wondering if the heat has dried the shell and made it harder for it to break out ? I did wipe a wet finger around the hole it made this morning, should I do this again, or am I worrying over nothing ?

[Redwing]

It does sound like the egg membrane has dried out a bit if the chick has made such a big hole and no other progress for 24 hours but its hard to be sure, they dont always hatch in the same way but most of mine have made a smallish hole then sawn round the rest of the egg and the ones that have made big holes in one place normally cannot move because the membrane has dried out

 

Take it out and gently wrap it in a warmish damp flannel for a minute or so to help water soak in to the egg and any exposed membrane (be careful not to get water on the chicks face and then place it back under the hen

 

In an incubator I probably wouldnt interfere but with a broody hen its a bit easier as the egg is already exposed somewhat so loss of humidity is less of a problem when removing an egg

[meezers]

Thanks. Youngest son has just been out to say good morning to Muppet, and found her and the chicks had left the nest and were having a drink - so that panic is over I took the opportunity to dampen the membrane as you suggested, and Muppet is now sat back on the egg, so fingers crossed it should hatch soon.

[Lewis]

Another of Tasha's ideas I used

 

Soak some mixed corn in a cup of water for 6 hours/a day and then give that to the broody to get fluids into her.

Works for my 2

[meezers]

Well, I've helped it out . Just been to see how it was getting on and the egg was lying in the nest, surrounded by 3 chicks pecking at it,obviously fascinated by this cheeping bundle- Muppet was sunning herself in the doorway. I think the hole it had made was slightly bigger- I could see the whole of it's head, but obviously it now couldn't use it's beak to break out. The membrane I could see was brown and dry again, so I brought it inside and dripped warm water over it until I could peel it away, it then came out of it's shell very easily.I've popped it under Muppet , hopefully she'll sit on it until it's fluffed up and not go back to sunbathing.

[Redwing]

Well it sounds like she had given up on it

 

Opinions differ greatly ob helping chicks out but at the end of the day we are all human and faced with a dilemma would probably try to help. I've done it myself with mixed sucess but its worth a try

 

The fact that it slid from the shell cleanly and easily is good, any blood and it probably wouldnt survive

 

Fingers crossed for the little chick

[Madchook]

I helped a Hubbard late last night -pipped 48hrs ago and made a hole and nothing changed ( 2 others DIS without pipping and it was day 24, all other chicks had long hatched). Anyway, I am retiscent to help these days, but this one had been pipped so long I thought I'd try and like yours it came out very cleanly - so it was ready but I would have lost it if I hadn't helped. Previous I have helped have bled and they just didn't come good. I did wonder if the weather wasn't helping, even in an incy with steady humidity, membrane felt tough to me.

[meezers]

Well, I'm blaming the unusally hot weather, but what do I know ? Muppet had no interest in chick when I put it back in the coop, wouldn't sit on it to fluff it up and the other chicks just trampled all over it . So, against my better judgement ( head telling me there was a reason she didn't want to know , heart telling me to give it a chance )I popped it down my t-shirt and sat in the garden for a few hours until it was nicely fluffed. I've just popped it back in the coop now Muppet and chicks are tucked up in bed, and she has snuggled it under her, but I'm not sure it's walking properly,seems rather uncoordinated, so I may have to cull it in the morning anyway

[abwsco]

Was just going to ask you elsewhere for an update Ali. Fingers crossed it will be OK in the morning.

[meezers]

Was just going to ask you elsewhere for an update Ali. Fingers crossed it will be OK in the morning.

 

Well I'm up at 4.30am for work, so let the chooks out then. If it can't follow the others I'll cull it straight away, then I won't be thinking about it all day.At least it will have had a night snuggled under it's mum

[meezers]

Update ! I't s looking good at the moment, all asleep at 4.30am, at 8am all 4 chicks came out from under Muppet to say 'hello', chickie was standing ( with wings spread for balance ) and took a couple of steps without falling. So it's had a reprieve for the moment . I've checked a couple of times since, but can't see it cos it's under Muppet, and Muppet is moving around the 4ft coop, so chickie must be able to follow her, trying not to get too hopeful, cos I really didn't think it would be ok yesterday. Keep everything crossed for it please, will update again later.

[meezers]

Well, you wouldn't recognise it as the same chick now. It wobbles occasionally when it's standing, looks like it's had one too many on a night out and tends to fall over if it preens too vigorously, it's also a bit smaller than the others, but then it's 24- 48 hours younger I guess. Apart from that it's toddling around fine, eating , drinking, climbing over mum and sunbathing - so cute to see so pleased I listened to my heart, not my head.

[Lewis]

Great news

[chick wiggle]

Oh phew! Im so pleased its all come good!

I had an egg pip like yours but in the incy and left it. Unfortunately this time, i should have helped it along as mine didnt make it. So Im so glad yours is doing well.