Beak sticking out of dime sized hole in shell - not unzipping

[Ali123123123]

One of the eggs in the incubator pipped last night. This morning there was a dime sized hole in the egg and the chick's beak is sticking out a little bit. It's been about 11 hours and it hasn't started to unzip. I know people say to wait for a while before helping the chick out. How long should we wait as we don't know when it made the larger hole in the night. It is still breathing. Most of the other chicks have already hatched in the last few days. 3 more this morning and then no more today.

Thanks so much!! I feel for this little one.

 

[Mvan42]

Is it moving it’s head around like it’s trying to zip. I had one that was shrink wrapped and couldn’t get any farther than that. You can remove a little more of the shell with tweezers to check. Be careful it may just not be ready yet

 

[Ali123123123]

It’s opening and closing it’s beak a little but the beak is mostly just sticking out a bit.
The humidity has been quite high 72-80 throughout all the other hatches.

 

[JaeG]

If it's opening and closing its beak like it is yawning and smacking its lips then it is still absorbing the remains of the yolk.

 

[Ali123123123]

That’s what it looks like! Just keep waiting?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

That’s what it looks like! Just keep waiting?

Yes wait!

 

[Mvan42]

Hows it doing.

 

[Ali123123123]

The egg was turned over by the other chicks so I can’t see the hole anymore. It hasn’t hatched and I think it’s been about 24 hours now since it pecked the big hole. Should I turn it over to see what’s up? The humidity is at 79% this morning.

 

[Ali123123123]

We turned it over and the membrane was bloody. No breathing. So sad. Thanks for all your help.

 

[JaeG]

Oh, that is sad.