[mentalmilly]

I need some advice please.  Have hatched 8 maran chicks yesterday, but today the last one l thought had died started to chirp in the egg.  Very pleased and thought l would leave it to get on with it.  However there is no sign of a hole or crack in the shell but you can hear the poor chick chirping and trying to break through the shell.  Going on for 13hours now.  Is it a good idea to try to make a hole and help it out or is it too soon to get involved?  It would be a shame for it to die trying to get out if it needs help but l don't know if l would be doing more harm than good.

[sabrina]

We have helped in the past so I think you should just go ahead before its too late. Do it slowly and stop if it starts to bleed.

[mentalmilly]

Thanks sabrina l will give it a go.

[Stereo]

Marans eggs can be very thick. Or it's possible it hasn't developed a proper hook on it's beak. I would suggest very slowly and very gently getting the shell off but leaving the membrane intact if you can until you find the beak and try to keep it all moist with warm water. Stop there and see if it can make any progress. You could also break the egg around the circumference to help it unzip.

We've done this before but the key is to go very slow and steady. Don't panic, they have enough nutrients to live up to 36 hours inside the egg so it's not going to starve to death. See if you can get the beak out into the air and then take it very slowly from there. Don't be tempted to drag it out in one go. See if it can do it itself although it's probably shrink wrapped by now. Keep the membrane moist.

The biggest risk is that you will kill it by going to fast, not too slow. But you are probably going to have to help it all the way.

Also, if you do end up helping it a lot, it may kick it's legs a lot for a good few hours once out. It's the reflex for kicking out of the egg. Don't worry about this, it's not having spasms or anything. Leave it in the warm to dry out and fluff up.

[Marches Farmer]

I use the handle of a teaspoon to tap the egg very gently at the broad end and prise the shell off in pieces.  Sometimes they don't hatch because of a health problem or because they're too big to manoeuvre their head to peck their way out or because the inner shell membrane has started to dry out.  Mostly they die anyway but sometimes they live!

[AndynJ]

Maran shells are made of concrete give it a hand, I make a few cracks and remove a piece about the size of 5p

So 9 maran chicks if you get more than 2 girls kick yourself (for not buying a lottery ticket) you lucky ***********

Good luck 

[mentalmilly]

Thanks everyone.  I have given it a hand , yes the shell was really thick,  it now has its head and shoulders free poor thing is tuckered out so am leaving it alone now and will move it into the brooder with its siblings tomorrow.
Hope its racing around in circles when l get up tomorrow.  That will make 9 hopefully, praying for a lot of girls.  They are so cute.

[sabrina]

fingers crossed 

[mentalmilly]

Well the little chick survived and is now running around with the others after a good days sleep.  Called it Rocket because it charges around after the others despite being the smallest. Thanks all for the advice.

[FiB]

  Brilliant, always great to maximise life... Congrats! ( although I dooo understand the argument for natural selection if you are a breeder or selling them..... But I can't resist helping a chick out if there is a struggler!  I removed a 90% hatched dead chick from under the broody the day before yesterday.... We are not observing natures way, but what the heck.)

[mentalmilly]

Natures way is the way to go but l cant stand by and watch a chick die because it cant get out of the egg. If it dies after the help then it was probably meant to be.  If it happens under a hen thats out of my control and it makes you wonder, if they die on the way out, if they had a genetic problem that caused them to die.  You cant beat a broody for looking after chicks though, they are far better than a human.  My next lot is going under a broody who is ready and waiting.