Button quail late hatch

[LavLady]

Another one has piped and started to hatch, it's very obvious the one that is stuck in the egg is going to need help out! I'm a bit nervous about it any of you had to help a chick out before? How long do you think I should wait before I try to help it out?! 

Do it SLOWLY. pull the shell and membrane away from the big end and put it back. Then WAIT. and watch your humidity.

 

[Quail Jailer]

I helped one today, his shell was too thin and it was irregularly broken, leaving him pretty much trapped in the membrane.

It's a tough call, you want to wait long enough that you're positive he can't do it himself, but not so long as to sap all his strength.

 

[Quail Jailer]

OH and...

 

[LavLady]

I use itty bitty zip ties and mark the ones that needed help. If they are shipped eggs I worry less about it, but I don't want to breed troublesome hatchers if I can avoid it. I am planning on culling heavily for size, temperment, and ease of hatching. Not this generation though... this generation it's all about growing out... HATCH EVERYTHING. Haha.

 

[BunnyBuns]

He has been like this for almost a full day now, I wish I could post a picture but it is to hard to. So I'll try to explain it the best I can. Okay so there is one small hole next to a long big hole, the shell has looked like this for most of the day. From the looks of it he has not given up at all. He keeps pecking at one part of the shell but is not making any progress. I had to open the incubator to get another chick out cause he was pecking and harassing another one that was hatching. So should I wait longer to see if he will hatch or try to help him?

 

[LavLady]

If he hasn't made progress in 8 hours or so that is when I step in. I would guess (and without seeing him thats all I can do, is guess) his membrane is beginning to dry out. I'd put money on you pulling the end off that egg and finding a partially shrink wrapped chick inside.

 

[Quail Jailer]

Yeah, if you wait much longer he might not recover...roll the dice

 

[BunnyBuns]

Okay I'm going for it wish me luck!

 

[LavLady]

 

[Quail Jailer]

Hatcher is still running but I think the fat lady has sung.

Wound up with 29 healthy birds no issues.

2 pipped and failed to launch. The other dozen didn't do anything, I'll look at them later.

I gotta admit I did not candle any of these eggs at any time, just slapped em in the smoker.