24 hour old pip

[KLRA]

Be careful about helping anymore. Like another user said, if it's bleeding then it's not ready to hatch. I've never lost a chick because it pipped on the wrong end--they've always made it out just fine for me. Just keep in mind that it may not be meant to hatch. Helping a chick come out of an egg only to find that it's deformed or otherwise unhealthy is heartbreaking. There are so many variables and not being able to see into the egg is such a killer! I'd let the eggs be, especially if some are moving--you'll probably have some more pips shortly. Incubating for the first time can be extremely stressful, but know that it gets a little easier each time. I hope you get good results

 

[Christie Rhae]

It is heart breaking to watch a chick die in the shell when you know you can help. But the few times I have felt compelled to help...later I realized the chick really was not strong enough. I have even had to put a chick down immediately after helping it out. Much of it's insides had developed outside. That was why it could not get out...just wasn't meant to be. But it is really hard to not help...

 

[Avonshire]

KLRA--thank you for your kind words and advice! I find it hard to not help! If it had been a more normal progression and if I knew that I did everything right during the incubation(which I did not, learning as I go unfortunately) then I think things would have been better/easier. I will probably do it again but I may need a long break before I do it again.

 

[mohillbilly]

KLRA--thank you for your kind words and advice! I find it hard to not help! If it had been a more normal progression and if I knew that I did everything right during the incubation(which I did not, learning as I go unfortunately) then I think things would have been better/easier. I will probably do it again but I may need a long break before I do it again.

when you are ready to try again If you would like me to walk you through the hatch from start to finish PM me....my hatch rate is 99% and I have been doing it for over 30 years

 

[KLRA]

Reading articles on how the chick develops and the internal pip to hatch stage is what really gave me confidence in hatching my own chicks. I also use the egg weighing method to monitor my humidity--you don't have to use a hygrometer and keep it at a certain percentage, which helps reduce the stress of incubating quite a bit--there are no numbers to stare at and worry about all day! If you need help learning how to do this I would be more than happy to help you You're doing the right thing by posting in the forum and asking questions. There are lots of great people here to help--I know because I got my start on BYC too.

As for trying again, I'd say go for it as soon as you can... nothing to make up for a bad experience like a great one I'd calibrate the temp in your incubator since your eggs were overdue (you're likely running at a lower temp) and put some fresh eggs in there once this hatch is over. Speaking of, has there been any progress?

 

[Avonshire]

Here are some pics of my chick but I don't think it is doing very well. It has been out of the shell completely for about 4 hours. It is breathing and has moved around the incubator but not much and is not really able to be up for very long. It could just be exhausted since it worked so long to get out OR it could be on its way out. it looks pretty bad and has a fwe bits of shell still stuck to it.

 

[Avonshire]

I don't think my husband will be too keen on me doing this again--it has been stressful on both of us!

 

[KLRA]

That's normal behavior for newly hatched chicks... it's going to take a day or so before she starts coming out of it. And I totally hear you on the stress... For my April hatch I decided to remove my thermometer and my hygrometer because I was checking them obsessively and getting worried about the tiniest change--it was just way too much! I ended up being 8/8 on that hatch Of course, I knew I could rely on my incubator to hold a steady temp. I wouldn't do what I did on my first try. But there are definitely things you can do to make it a less stressful (and even enjoyable) experience.

Hope they keep popping out of those eggs!

 

[Avonshire]

Well I have told my kids that this one might not make it but if it didn't make it we would do it again and hopefully do it better. My incubator stayed stable at 99.5 the whole time according to the therm in it but I guess for a unit without a fan it should be warmer? Anyway, live and learn! I just bought a hygrometer today!

 

[jtyrrell08]

I hope your newly hatched chick is doing better. . it's definitely very stressful hatching chicks but it's worth it in the end knowing you have had them from their hatching day. =) and just a word of advice, I too get anxious when the chicks pip, but after my last batch I don't think I'm going to 'help' anymore. I had one chick live an entire week, but I watered and fed it with a pipet many, many times a day. I was sad and felt like if I wouldn't have helped it hatch, it wouldn't have suffered an entire week. But I couldn't bear to put it down because I thought it was getting better. . sometimes they just aren't supposed to make it. .

I do suggest for you to put another batch in the incubator. . it's so fulfilling to hear the chirping of new baby chicks