Chick pipped at wrong end!!

[Leo.76]

Today is day 21, hatch day. I've noticed, one of my eggs has pipped at the wrong end!! It's been like this for 4 hours now, what do I do??? Do I assist hatch???

 

[Hopethehen]

Wrong end? What do you mean..?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Wrong end? What do you mean..?

He means that the egg pipped at the small end. They're supposed to pip at the large end, where the airspace is.

 

[Zinjifrah]

I had one in my last batch pip at the wrong end. I did assist, when it became apparent the chick wasn't able to make much of any progress. It hadn't ruptured the air pocket, and as a result didn't have room to maneuver. Whether you assist or not is a decision you'll need to make, but if you do, proceed with caution. Just take a little bit of shell off at a time, checking the membrane beneath to ensure it doesn't have any blood vessels in it. At four hours, the chick may still be absorbing its yolk - normally they pip into the air pocket, then spend some time at that point before they pip externally, rest again, and finally work on getting out. This chick will have had to pip directly to the outside, without that break between the first breaths and trying to break through a tough shell.

If it were me, I would open up the pipped spot enough to ensure that the chick can breathe, then give it several more hours to see if it can finish up on its own before doing anything else.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I've only ever had this happen once. The most important thing is to make sure the chick has air. If he does, stop, take a breath, and go read Sally Sunshine's guide to assisted hatching.

If he doesn't have a breathing hole, make one. Just peel off some of the surrounding membrane and shell.

Zinjifrah has offered some pretty good advice. I would follow it.

 

[Hopethehen]

He means that the egg pipped at the small end. They're supposed to pip at the large end, where the airspace is.

Oooooooo thanks so much lol I’m also hatching chicks at day 12

 

[oregonkat]

Usually chicks that pip at the wrong end do just fine on their own. If the shell is cracked the chick should be able to breath, they just take much longer to zip. When a chick is turned correctly the internal pip allows the little one to breath and begin the process of absorbing the blood and yolk. Be patient, it might take her a little bit longer to arrive.

 

[cmom]

I have had chicks pip the pointy end of the shell and hatch out fine. Just keep an eye on it in case you might need to assist.

 

[Leo.76]

Ok. Thank you so much!! I'll keep an eye on it for sure!! This helped calm down my anxiety a bit, haha. IIhooe it makes it out ok without any assistance.
Than you again.

 

[Leo.76]

Update: the chick made it out ok!!