This morning I approached the coop feeling spooked. I opened the egg door to find Fuzztop anxious and skittish. There was an odor, another egg had exploded or she had broken it. It appeared to be another dud. But the yolk from this egg had coated everything including the egg that was pipping last night. The baby inside sounded distressed but since it takes several hours to hatch there was no telling what was really going on.
Fuzztop was pecking angrily at it and I didn't know if she was trying to help the chick out or kill it. I still didn't know if eggs had exploded or if she had broken them, I didn't know what to think. She was going to kill it pecking at it this way. Her expression was not good. I panicked and brought the egg indoors and turned on the stove for warmth and began to gently and carefully peel back the egg. My hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. I didn't know what I was doing. I could be killing this poor thing, ugh! I had read that blood would be normal but cutting off their supply too fast could result in them bleeding to death.
Not knowing what was exactly what I set the chick free of everything as gently as possible.
I have been waiting an our now and the feathers are drying out. Let's say it's a female. Her breathing is strong and she moves around and peeps but has yet to open her eyes. I hope she does soon. This whole ordeal is really entirely too earthy for me. My hands were covered with blood and this slimy little thing I would freak out my husband, who was still asleep, but I needed his help so I called out. My grandparents suggested I gather the remaining eggs and set them under the brooder lamp. When I looked outside both girls were on the nest.
The one chick that is still living has been named Elvis. William was playing Elvis all afternoon and this chick was The One and Only. Like Elvis, her sib died at birth. Elvis went through dramatic changes throughout the day. I am still disturbed and heartbroken over the losses but all my love has gone into Elvis who really rocks for cooperating with my efforts this morning. She still has a long way to go though.
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