When should I intervene with a hatch? I'm afraid the membrane may be too dry.

[CluksNDucks]

I'm just curious if I should be concerned...I know it's a slow process but it's been like this for about 7 hours now. It's not shaking or moving too much, but is chirping and seems to be breathing just fine.

 

[FridayYet]

It does look a little dry - make sure your humidity is high (70%). It can take 24 hours from pip to when they start zipping, so sit on your hands and I bet you'll have a chick in the morning!

 

[CluksNDucks]

I don't have a humidity reader just know if there's no water add more. lol

 

[modernsettlers]

We've had to help shrink-wrapped chickies before, but more often than not they pop the rest of the way out during the night with no problem. If it hasn't been a day (or at least over night), I would keep an eye on it and wait.

For incubating and hatching, a humidity gauge can be a huge help. They're pretty inexpensive (the cheap analog ones are about 5 bucks), and you can find them in most pet stores that have a small reptile section, so I recommend one of those too.

 

[CluksNDucks]

Looks like part of the membrane is dried and stuck on it's beak, I'm not sure if that's preventing it form moving around too much or not but it hasn't moved from it's position in 12 hours now.

 

[CluksNDucks]

I'll give it until morning or at least another 9 hours and see how it's doing.

 

[FridayYet]

Can you see it breathing or is it cheeping? I'm still concerned about your humidity. What kind of incubator do you have?

 

[kyzerc]

Id get it out if it has been 12 hours,I got one out this morning,he had cracked the egg all the way around,but the membrane only had one small hole in it.He was exhausted He wouldn't have made it.It may just be me,but I left 2 a while back,half these two had to be helped outmost of these wer helped out3 or 4out of 7 get out without dying.I have


out and they were both dead next morning.My daughter says her eggs have extra thick membranes.I had to cut with swissores.I have been in hospital a lot and humidny wasn't right when I got home

 

[CluksNDucks]

Yes it's active and chirping, but hasn't moved since this morning and I'm wondering if it's too big to move around. Should I try to help and not wait until morning?

 

[CluksNDucks]

Can you see it breathing or is it cheeping? I'm still concerned about your humidity. What kind of incubator do you have?

I've got a super old Little Giant. This was a test hatch to see if my eggs were fertile and how the bator would do, I have plans to replace it.