First time hatching. Day 22 need advice

[mlrod1914]

Hi
So the chicks started cheeping yesterday midday. Today is day 22. I made sure the humidity was 69% last night. Came down this morning and humidity was 50%. I immediately soaked the sponges again and humidity is back up to 67%.
Temps have been pretty good and consistent.
Homemade coolerbator with no window.

Here's a picture. I found one chick trying to hatch. Does it look dry to you? It is breathing. The first picture was taken at 8:45am and the second at 1:10pm
No change at all. But I can see belly breathing. Should I just leave it alone? I didn't see pips last night either so I'm not sure when it started to open up.
I'm stressed it won't make it. This is my first time. Other eggs are cheeping too.

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[WalnutHill]

No progress in 36+ hours, I'd have intervened long ago.

In the part of the membrane that is visible, can you see blood vessels that look like those you saw while candling? If those have retracted, since it is a side pip, then the wait time should be over.

It should be safe to dampen the membrane and peel off the shell between the hole and the fat end of the egg, then open it up all around to the level of the hole. Work slowly and carefully, dampening the membrane as you go. When you are done, the larger end of the egg should be completely removed, and the chick should be partially exposed. Place the egg back in the incubator so that the chick's back is either to one side or to the top, not the bottom. This will help ensure that the chick's neck isn't pulled upside down when he untucks his head.

If at any time you find fresh blood in the membrane, stop immediately and continue to wait.

Allow the chick to push out of the shell when he's ready, but after this long he may be too exhausted to do so and you may need to prompt/assist just a little. If you see blood vessels or yolk near the thighs, again stop and wait.

 

[mlrod1914]

Ok this is 8:45am. The original post has the 1:10 pm picture

I've been trying to not open the lid. I did to wet sponges and to just peek once. I've had the lid open no more than 1.5 seconds each time

 

[WalnutHill]

It does look dry to me. Can you add another warm, wet sponge?

After no progress after that much time has passed, I'd intervene on the partially zipped one. It looks like he's glued in.

 

[mlrod1914]

How do I do that without hurting it?

 

[WalnutHill]

I'm on my way out the door, but before you do anything, read https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

I'll see if I can rally some help for you...

 

[chicapee]

If you have some antibiotic ointment, you can apply it to the membrane using a q tip. If not plain water but you will need to do it more often.

 

[chicapee]

I'm on my way out the door, but before you do anything, read https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

I'll see if I can rally some help for you...

I am just about to do another assist myself.

 

[chicapee]

R 2pm this chick will have pipped for 24hrs. It started to zip in the wrong direction. I am trying to allow it to finish itself, before I intervene. Which will be in 29 mins.

 

[mlrod1914]

Thanks so much. I had read that article earlier. Also watched a video. I didn't know about the water but I used a little paper towel to dab a few drops on the dry areas.
Here's a pic after I unzipped it. Hope I did ok. It was moving and peeping. It's still peeping like crazy in there! Hope that's a good sign. there was a tiny bit of dried membrane I didn't think it would get through so I just snipped it. ( near beak)