Bad Pip!

[FluffyButtBabies]

So here's the deal. She still hasn't made any progress. She's moving around a lot and peeping, but can't seem to widen the crack or zip. There doesn't seem to be any blood around the membrane by the crack, so should I widen it for her? Or do I have to worry about her getting shrink wrapped? I'm obviously not planning to do anything till noon (almost 30 hours after she first pipped). Will it be okay to help then?

 

[Kiraeh]

Even in a closed, properly humid incubator, having an external pip for that long can let things dry out.
It's time for The Article:

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

This is the best info out there, and will help you assist safely.

 

[LynnaePB]

So here's the deal. She still hasn't made any progress. She's moving around a lot and peeping, but can't seem to widen the crack or zip. There doesn't seem to be any blood around the membrane by the crack, so should I widen it for her? Or do I have to worry about her getting shrink wrapped? I'm obviously not planning to do anything till noon (almost 30 hours after she first pipped). Will it be okay to help then?

(Just saw you were linked to the article while I was writing this rather lengthy response, it's been very helpful to me, perhaps some of the below will still be helpful though).

Can you see her beak well? Chicks that aren't ready to come out yet will fairly frequently make yawning/chewing motions with their beak which means they are still finishing up absorbing yolk/blood vessels or both. Is she striking out with her beak very often and not also yawning/chewing? If so she may be about ready.

Usually when I have a chick that is having trouble turning to zip they will widen their pip and keep on striking out and often peep more insistently.

I've had lots of chicks hatch just fine from this position (the majority of them) but chances of them needing assistance does go up a bit when they hatch from the narrow end.

When I have little ones hatching in this position I often widen the pip just a bit (enough so I can easily monitor breathing and get a better view of the beak. You do have to be careful about blood vessels. I make sure to have some tissue/paper towels at hand in case I hit a blood vessel so I can quickly stop bleeding.

Once the little one is showing signs of being ready to come out but having trouble turning to zip I carefully start breaking a bit of shell the same way the chick would if it could turn to zip. If I misjudge and see there is any bleeding I quickly stop the bleeding and put the egg back in the incubator and give it some more time (while carefully watching to make sure the baby is doing alright).

You'll want to stay nearby if you can and check in often as the biggest danger would be the chick managing to turn in the shell but not breaking the shell thus losing access to air.

Usually when I have to assist this position everything turns out fine (even when I do happen to hit a blood vessel). It can be difficult knowing exactly when assistance is needed especially when you are new to assisting. If you are careful and go slowly and make sure to quickly stop any bleeding you'll likely have a positive outcome (though occasionally they just won't make it for whatever reason).

The few I've had who didn't make it in this position either had trouble switching from using their blood vessel network to using their lungs or turned in the egg away from the pip and suffocated themselves. Your baby already sounds like it's got a good handle on breathing so just watch out to make sure she doesn't turn herself away from the pip.

Good luck, I hope everything goes smoothly for the little one!

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

Ok! Her beak is very visible, and she is being very loud and rocking the egg. Her pip is decently sized too, she keeps trying to push more out in that area (she isn't really zipping though). I really haven't assisted before, so I don't want to do it unless it's really necessary. I'll keep and eye on her to see if she gets stuck while turning. But for now I'm just going to let her try and get out on her own.

 

[LynnaePB]

From what you are describing it does sound like she's probably ready (and perhaps having trouble turning in which case she won't be able to start a zip). It should be fine giving her a little while and seeing if she starts to zip on her own but once they are ready if they try too much without getting anywhere it can really take it out of them so I'd keep that in mind.

Zipping usually takes under 30 minutes for my chicks, If they've been struggling for more than an hour or two and I realize and help they are usually exhausted and can take up to a few days to recuperate depending on how soon I realized they needed help.

Good luck, I really hope she starts making it out on her own for you soon but if you do have to assist I'm guessing it will probably be a pretty easy and straightforward one from what you are describing (she really does sound like she's probably ready to me). If you do help her zip you can let her push out of the egg on her own time in case their is any absorbing left to do.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

She broke it open some more. There isn't any blood in the membrane, so I won't be worried if she ends up needing help. But so far she's managing. You can't see her beak in the pic, because it's at the underside of the egg. The only thing I'm worried about is that she is kind of banging her beak sideways instead of outward to zip (there isn't enough room). Do you think she'll be able to push her own way out?

 

[LynnaePB]

View attachment 2230906She broke it open some more. There isn't any blood in the membrane, so I won't be worried if she ends up needing help. But so far she's managing. You can't see her beak in the pic, because it's at the underside of the egg. The only thing I'm worried about is that she is kind of banging her beak sideways instead of outward to zip (there isn't enough room). Do you think she'll be able to push her own way out?

Ah good it looks like she is starting her zip! She'll probably be able to push out fine now she's started but if she pauses for more than 5-10 minutes I wouldn't be afraid of just popping the narrow end of the egg off for her, it shouldn't hurt her at all.

 

[quailmama 82012]

good luck to you and her both!

 

[MGG]

View attachment 2230906She broke it open some more. There isn't any blood in the membrane, so I won't be worried if she ends up needing help. But so far she's managing. You can't see her beak in the pic, because it's at the underside of the egg. The only thing I'm worried about is that she is kind of banging her beak sideways instead of outward to zip (there isn't enough room). Do you think she'll be able to push her own way out?

Any yawning chewing motions? Definitely read the article, just in case. Give her another hour or two, and then I'd help her out. She should be ready by now. One thing I do before I assist, is take the egg in a dark room and candle. I can almost always see veins if they're not ready. No visible veins = ready. Just a precaution.

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

She is definitely ready to leave, the shell is almost completely chipped off. All that's left is the membrane. I'm going to wait a bit to see if she can pull herself out before pealing the membrane back. I think it dried out from being exposed for so long, so it's harder for her.