30 hrs post pip but no zip - Help!

[akritzer]

Help. This chick is moving and showing it's beak and peeping but it hasn't started to zip. The membrane where it popped is brownish now. Do I take it out and help it? This is my first hatch ever. I have read so much and yet feel like I know nothing as everyone has. tale to tell. These are barred rock eggs. Humidity and temp are both good. The chick beside it pipped an hour after it and he is now zipping away albeit slowly.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Help it. Let me find an assisted hatch article and I’ll be right back.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[cherrynberry]

I am not an expert, but when I had an egg pop and not zip for 10+ hours, the membrane was getting dry, but the chick was alive. I did not do an assisted hatch, but wetted the membrane and it helped a lot. It came out within 30-60 minutes.

 

[akritzer]

Oh my GOODNESS!! That was quite the adrenaline rush!! I just aided both as the one that initially zipped hadn't made any more progress over a 6+ hour span. It was definitely a dry membrane as I needed to carefully apply water to soften it all around. I truly believe had I waited they may not have made it. I now have two very fiesty and very vocal chicks in my incubator. I am now wondering if my hygrometer was off. It said 72% which is on the high side. Crazy! I'm only disappointed I didn't wake up my son to witness it. Not bad for my first assist....can I breathe now??!! Now I just have 4 to go. I hope that I haven't caused any damage to my other pipper, however now I know what to watch for (I think?!). Thank you for your quick replies and encouragement.