Hi all,

Good news is, I have my first Light Brahma Chick! It is sooo cute. Colors run from silver to yellow and gray to black, and it already has feathers on its feet. :-)

However, my concern is that I have a Buff Orp chick that pipped early yesterday morning. While it has a signifigant hole in the center of the egg, its beak is centered as well & under the wing. It keeps oozing liquid and bubbling. I'm afraid the chick is going to drown before it can get out. I tried to help it out this morning, but the membrane bleeds profusely whenever I touch it.

What is my best course of action?

Thanks & BB

-- Devera Morgan (anatida@worldnet.att.net), January 31, 2002

Answers

In my 30 years of experience I have come to the conclusion that you are DA____ed if you do and DA_____ED if you don't. Sometimes they do make it , usually they don't. I think that they hear the other eggs hatching and think " I gotta get out too ".

It does have something to do with the humidity. Too much I believe.

I will get back back with a web site.

-- Bonnie Norris (queqid@att.net), January 31, 2002.

Indications Possible Causes What to do No blood vessels at candling Eggs not fertile Check flock management Embryo died very early Check egg holding conditions Check incubation operation Many dead embryos Temperature too high or low Check incubator and accuracy of thermometer Improper turning Turn 3 times per day Poor oxygen supply Increase ventilation Poor nutrition Check breeder flock diet Piped eggs not hatching Low humidity Have correct wet bulb temperature Hatch too early High temperature Check temperature Hatch too late Low temperature Check temperature Shells stick to chicks High humidity early or low humidity late Check humidity Cripples Temperature problems Check incubator Humidity problems Check incubator Improper turning Correct turning Smooth hatching trays Provide better traction Large, soft-bodied weak chicks Low temperature Check temperature Poor ventilation Improve air flow Mushy chicks, dead on tray Navel infection Improve sanitation Rough navels High temperature or wide temperature fluctuations Check temperature Low moisture Check wet bulb temperature

this came from ohioline.osu.edu/b633/b633_4.html

-- Bonnie Norris (queqid@att.net), January 31, 2002.

what I've done when confronted with a difficult hatch is to try and carefully crack the shell around where the peep hole is but not actually remove it. just to make it easier for the chick to get through when it's ready. a few times I've had to get a little more aggressive. the bleeding membrane is bit hard on the nerves (mine) but I don't think much harm is done if the chick really is ready. at most I usually get the head free but leave the chick in the shell until it feels frisky (and the yoke is fully absorbed into the abdomen). I've only lost one to the type of symptoms you describe and that was one I didn't lend a hand. good luck.

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

Well I lost him.

I don't think this one was meant to make it. I went back to check on it again, and it looked like it was still moving and breathing. I began removing more of the membrane with little or no blood evident. I thought I saw its beak move a couple of times. But in the end, it had not absorbed the yolk and was bleeding from the navel.

Well, I have to get used to the fact that they aren't all going to live. :-(

On the bright side, I've had 7 more eggs pipp in the last 2 hours.

Thanks for the help.

-- Devera Morgan (anatida@worldnet.att.net), January 31, 2002.

Might be worth dampening the eggshells with warm water, just in case it's been a bit dry and the shells are a bit hard.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), January 31, 2002.

I have actually done that about every other day. I also have Duck eggs in the same 'bator. I think my problem may be lack of turning (even though I've read lots of people say it doesn't help). So far both that pipped first were stuck to the membranes. I didn't have that problem with the ducks I hatched in Nov.

I have a couple of more that have pipped and seem to be making WONDERFUL progress.

-- Devera Morgan (anatida@worldnet.att.net), January 31, 2002.

Off topic a bit, but I used to know a woman who raised emus. She mentioned having done a c-section with a ball peen hammer. I never saw it but....

-- nyob (nowhere@noplace.net), January 31, 2002.

Your not supposed to turn chicken eggs after day 18.That gives the chicks time to position themselves to hatch. You are also, not supposed to remove the top of your bator, as that lets out the humidity and drys the membrane,that's why the chicks are sticking to it. Good Luck with your hatch, sorry you lost one.

-- Phyl (Phylronz@aol.com), February 01, 2002.

You should take the chick out of the egg, but do it with their mother very close to you, if the chick see you and not their mother they will imprint in you, and you are mommy instead. I had a rooster like that, and it was funny but also sad. He was a good rooster if I was not around but whenever I show up, beleive me he will follow me like a dog. I had him for a long time, he never change, until he passed away full of years. But he was my living proof of if you are going to help, be careful, there is a system for all, and if you alter this system you will pay for it. His name was Nestor, and he really was a great pet to me. And even a friend, maybe I imprinted on him too and some part of me saw him like a child, my child, weird isn't it? You know what, I miss him still... Ralph.

-- Ralph Roces (rroces1@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.