URGENT- Silkie chick hatching help! PIPPED- NOT ZIPPING 26 HOURS- FIRST TIME INCUBATING

[Londonsilkiemama]

Please help! I’m a suuuper nervous silkie mama. PLEASE SEE UPDATE AT BOTTOM- STILL NEED HELP!
I have 4 viable eggs (3 silkie, one bantam) in the incubator (a RCom 10 pro). (only 2 looking like there's movement)

One egg has been extremely active throughout and has pipped (it’s day 20 in the incubator today). It is cheeping, but has been pipped the same amount for 9 hours and seems to be breathing a lot and not managing to pip around more.

I have only seen movement in one other egg but no pipping signs yet. I didn’t candle or draw air pockets at day 19 as I didn’t know I had to do that.

I’m praying for at least one egg to hatch as my 4 year old daughter is so excited for her first chicken!

Ok so WHAT DO I DO!

Is the humidity ok?
It’s at 65%. Should I try get it up to 70 or 75%? (update- humidity 72% day 21)

I opened the air valve ⅓ the way this evening - should it be fully open or half or closed? Does it make a difference? (update- valve fully open)


PLEASE help and give me advice on how I can help this chick hatch or if / when I should step in. I thought it takes up to 24 hours to hatch after pipping.
I don’t want it to dry out if the humidity is too low. When should I step in if it hasn’t pipped more?

I have no idea if the other eggs will even hatch.

Will attach photos

Xxxxxx HUGE THANK YOU for your help in advance xxxxx

One photo will show the first pip at 12pm yesterday- the small one. The rest are taken now (9:15pm)

10pm- Just checked and SHIT humidity had dropped to 62% so closed valve more and it’s only open like 2mm.
Added more water.

*******************UPDATE: DAY 21- it has now been 26 hours, the chick has its beak out and peeps extremely quietly randomly, but has not zipped. The other egg is trying to pip but hasn't pierced internal membrane. Humidity is 72%
I can see the baby breathing and it occasionally tries to push its head up but it just goes through the small hole. It is gulping very occasionally now, it was doing it a lot more before.

At what point should I consider trying to help the chick zip? I really really want it to live! xxx

NEW PHOTO- baby is swaying it’s head and opening mouth wide and cheeping

 

[MysteryChicken]

I use humidity at hatch, between 55% - 65%.
A small drop to 62% isn't gonna hurt anything.

Day 20, is when pips are supposed to start happening, then they hatch day 21. Some hatch 2-3 days later, so between days 21- 25 all chicks should be hatched.

 

[Londonsilkiemama]

I use humidity at hatch, between 55% - 65%.
A small drop to 62% isn't gonna hurt anything.

Day 20, is when pips are supposed to start happening, then they hatch day 21. Some hatch 2-3 days later, so between days 21- 25 all chicks should be hatched.

Thank you! Can I close the valve or should it be open? I added a bunch of water so gonna set my alarm for every hour to make sure it doesn’t go too high. Is it ok to go up to 75? Xx

Is it ok the chick has been pipped like that for 9 hours? Xx

 

[MysteryChicken]

I don't draw the Aircell on my eggs I just candle to check size, & progress. The drawing thing is optional, not necessarily needed.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you! Can I close the valve or should it be open? I added a bunch of water so gonna set my alarm for every hour to make sure it doesn’t go too high. Is it ok to go up to 75? Xx

Is it ok the chick has been pipped like that for 9 hours? Xx

It's recommended to open, or partially open the vent for more air circulation.

It's fine, they can wait a whole day before actually hatching. It's just that they don't hatch within that time frame, then something maybe wrong.

 

[Londonsilkiemama]

It's recommended to open, or partially open the vent for more air circulation.

It's fine, they can wait a whole day before actually hatching. It's just that they don't hatch within that time frame, then something maybe wrong.

You’re an angel thank you! Okay so around 12pm tomorrow will be day 21 and 24 hours since pipping. Should I be thinking it’ll hatch then?

 

[MysteryChicken]

You’re an angel thank you! Okay so around 12pm tomorrow will be day 21 and 24 hours since pipping. Should I be thinking it’ll hatch then?

It should hatch some time that day, yes. Predicting exact time is near impossible.

 

[Londonsilkiemama]

UPDATE: 20 hours since first pip- the chick’s beak is out of the egg but no more pipping movement. I have just woken up. Humidity is at 65%
I have added some water and closed the valve hoping to crank it up to 69/70 so it doesn’t get stuck

Is this right?

Second egg is trying to pip

Is the first egg going to be okay? Xxxx

 

[Londonsilkiemama]

UPDATE!!! It is day 21 and has been 24 hours since the first chick pipped, but it hasn’t made much progress.

Should I try help the chick?

It makes gasping / breathing with its beak and tries to break but only ends up pushing its beak further up the hole.

The other egg is trying to pip.
My humidity is at 73% and the small air valve is open for oxygen.
I will attach photos

What do I do???? First time incubating

 

[cmobley]

It’s fine give them time there’s a lot going on in there you can’t see. They absorb the rest of their yolk sac after pipping just sit and watch enjoy the show it’ll come out when it’s ready. Can’t rush Mother Nature.