Chick pipped hours ago, now there is no movement, is it still alive?

[Mary309]

Hello!
I have 13 eggs set to hatch on Sunday. Today when I went to check on the eggs around 3:30pm, one of the eggs had pipped on the wrong side and I could see it's beak sticking out of the hole. The egg was wiggling and chirping for a while and then it stopped. It hasn't moved or chirped since, is it still alive? It's been a few hours and it still isn't doing anything. I didn't have a chance to adjust the humidity or candle the eggs for lockdown because I didn't want to open the lid after the egg pipped. I did open the lid once and put a wet paper towel inside, it brought the humidity up to 67%. I'm worried, do you think it is just resting or do you think it died?

Thanks

 

[Pyxis]

It's probably just resting, and since it pipped on the wrong end, it's probably got a day at least ahead of it for absorbing. You can open the incubator to check on it, it will not hurt anything. And that way you can also add water like you needed to for lockdown.

You can see the Head in Wrong End of Egg section in this article if you want to read about what to do if the chick does need to be assisted, but it likely won't need to be.

 

[PolishPeepers]

I also would assume it's resting. Pip to zip is very hard work! I have 10 Silver Polish 4 hatched today so far, one was way below my air cell mark, it took him 7 hours from first pip to hatch. It's ok to open quickly and do what is needed whether it be to add a sponge, or assist if absolutely necessary. Don't worry yet.

 

[Sarah B.]

Relax. It can take up to 24 hours for a chick to go from pip to zip. Just wait patiently and see what happens. In the meantime start working on your brooder, if it's not ready yet.