Anxiously Waiting

[vbrowne1]

I decided to try my hand at incubating eggs so I could fatten my flock. Out of 16 eggs, 13 made it alive to day 18, but never hatched... That is all but this one little guy. I've maintained a 101.5-102 temp and humidity has been steady at 62. I was worried maybe humidity wasn't high enough and got it up to 65, but no higher.
The one egg that is hatching was pulled on November 23. I was getting discouraged until I saw he had externally pipped yesterday morning at 9am. At 5:30am he had begun zipping and is a little over 1/3 the way around. As of now, 7:50, it is the same. He is still breathing good and still chirping, but I'm starting to get nervous. I know that it takes patience, but this little guy is testing mine and with each hour I'm getting more and more worried. He doesn't appear to be shrink wrapped, the egg is wrapped in a damp paper towel, and temp and humidity are still good.

Any advice???

I have had to get into the incubator to turn some other eggs I have recently pulled. I honestly thought the first batch was a lost cause, so I started new ones with the higher humidity level. However, my setup allows me to do so with minimal changes to the temp and humidity.

 

[vbrowne1]

Update:
It's 8:54am and no progress. He is still breathing steady, seems to be taking a nap. Still anxious and nervous and worried.

 

[vbrowne1]

Update:
9:47am. The membrane was super dry, so I helped zip. No blood. I also wrapped the egg in a damp paper towel. He is still breathing good. Fingers crossed. Also upping humidity as best I can

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

In my experience when they stop zipping like that they need help. Check out some of the posts on assisted hatching and proceed slowly with helping it. As long as it's absorbed all the yolk it should be fine.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Update:
9:47am. The membrane was super dry, so I helped zip. No blood. I also wrapped the egg in a damp paper towel. He is still breathing good. Fingers crossed. Also upping humidity as best I can

Well done!

 

[vbrowne1]

In my experience when they stop zipping like that they need help. Check out some of the posts on assisted hatching and proceed slowly with helping it. As long as it's absorbed all the yolk it should be fine.

I have been reading a bunch and have begun intervening. Humidity is upped, I helped finish zipping him, he isn't Shrink wrapped, and is breathing good. I also have him wrapped in a damp paper towel. I want to try to let him push out himself if he can, but monitoring closely

 

[vbrowne1]

Well done!

Thank u! Super stressful. I'm going to be super sad if this little guy doesn't make it!

 

[vbrowne1]

Update:
10:51am
I helped remove a portion of shell, his head and break are visible. Still in damp paper towels, breathing good, opening his mouth, humidity up to 67, playing chick noises, and watching

 

[vbrowne1]

He is still breathing, moving his wing some, opening and closing his mouth some. He pushed the top shell part off. Still wrapped in paper towels, still monitoring.

 

[vbrowne1]

12:14 and we have a baby. He needed some help because of membrane being super thick and dry. He was stuck. I helped and he opened an eye, peeped a whole bunch, and kicked his way out. Letting him rest and dry. Fingers crossed!