Discovering a Broken Chicken Egg - A Pink Baby's Rescue

Mother Hen's egg (Photo / Provided by breeder Lin Yi Yuen, all photos)

Reporter He Ruiyi / Interview Report

A small life, but a great responsibility! In, breeder Lin Yi Yuen's home, a mother gamefowl recently laid eggs, and abandoned one of the unhatched eggs. She had to take on the responsibility of 'proxy mother', continuing to care for it until the baby bird hatched.

Lin Yi Yuen said, because on January 21st, 24th, and 26th, there were three gamefowl babies hatched. After careful observation, she found that before hatching, the hen would 'peck' the eggs to help chip away at the shell, as well as supplement calcium. Unexpectedly, on the most important day, the hen abandoned the egg. 'I estimated the baby gamefowl might be about to come out based on the fertility days, and the shell was slightly cracked, and when I held it to my ear, I could even hear its movements!'

Unhatched gamefowl, being cared for by the breeder.

Lin Yi Yuen thought, because the hen helped with hatching other gamefowl babies, she should help a little now, so she gently opened a little bit of the shell. 'I nervously watched it in the evening, and finally it came out... but being busy also meant a new challenge... I wanted to start feeding it from day zero, hoping I could help it grow up safely.'

Newly hatched gamefowl, small and soft.