I have had problems with Delawares pipping the wrong end. They were the only ones to pip wrong last year. It had to do with a weak gene pool though.
They did hatch though. One of them crushed the egg shell and fell out on its own. The other one I had to help and it did not make it. I have never had one pip the small end and not see it though.
I had a terrible experience with two delaware hatches. None survived. They seemed too large for their shell and had lots of swelling in the neck and other very obvious deformities. It was sad. Was worried it was me or the incubator but I went on to hatch other breeds out just fine. Thinking it was genetic. Never purchased from that breeder again. Like to try dellies again in the future.
I have always incubated/hatched using either egg cartons or egg trays. I have only ever had 1 chick pip on the wrong end of the shell out of hundreds of eggs hatched.
I always use egg carton for hatching and have had upside down chicks. I read that it is normal to have a percentage of chicks not position themselves correctly for hatching.
Thanks for answering guys. Think I'll test out a hatch in cartons sometime and see how it goes.