Chick pipped over 32 hours ago...

[drafthorserider]

I have one chick that has pipped out of 17 thus far. It is now day 22 and he/she pipped over 32 hours ago and hasn't seemed to have made anymore progress. I can see him/her breathing through the hole and he/she peeps from time to time. None of the other eggs have pipped though they all (or most as I can't see into maran or blue eggs) looked viable upon lockdown. Maybe the rest won't hatch, but I am most concerned about the one that is obviously alive and has pipped. Is this normal?

Humidity was about 20-35% thoughout incubation and up to 50-65% during lockdown. It is a still air incubator and temp. ranged between 99-102 (I hand turned the eggs, so temp went down upon hand turning).

 

[sumi]

32 Hours is a bit long. I'd suggest chipping away a little bit of the shell from the pip hole, round the egg, with a pair of tweezers. Be careful not to tear the inner membrane that is covering the chick. Then take a wet Q-tip and carefully wet the inner membrane and look for any visible blood vessels. At this stage there shouldn't be any, but you never know so be careful and check! If you don't see any vessels, continue chipping away the shell and before letting the chick complete the hatch check the area near it's belly (if you can figure out where it is) for any vessels, as you may sometimes find some there when the rest of the membrane is clear. If there are no vessels left and the membrane is clear you can remove enough of the inner membrane to allow the chick to complete the hatch by itself.

 

[drafthorserider]

Thank you so much for the advice. I assisted after the chick had pipped with no progress for 36 hours. I chipped and chipped and it turned out his/her feet were up over his/her head.

If I understand the hatching 101 page, the chick was able to pip the shell, but couldn't push its head back to break anymore of the shell away. After I removed much of the top of the shell and freed his/her feet they came crashing out and the chick is now bashing around in the incubator bumping the other eggs. I hope it is enough to encourage them to try too if there are any others that will hatch. There is the barest hint of the yellow sac on his/her rear, so I am hoping that it will finish up like it needs too. I am just leaving him/her in the incubator where it is nice and moist. Is there anything else I should do?

 

[gimmie birdies]

if it is out of the shell the belly button area must dry out! it is only moist to get out of the shell.

 

[sumi]

Thank you so much for the advice. I assisted after the chick had pipped with no progress for 36 hours. I chipped and chipped and it turned out his/her feet were up over his/her head.

If I understand the hatching 101 page, the chick was able to pip the shell, but couldn't push its head back to break anymore of the shell away. After I removed much of the top of the shell and freed his/her feet they came crashing out and the chick is now bashing around in the incubator bumping the other eggs. I hope it is enough to encourage them to try too if there are any others that will hatch. There is the barest hint of the yellow sac on his/her rear, so I am hoping that it will finish up like it needs too. I am just leaving him/her in the incubator where it is nice and moist. Is there anything else I should do?

If it's unabsorbed yolk the chick should stay in the incubator for awhile with the humidity up to give it a chance to finish absorbing it. It shouldn't take too long. Once that is done and the chick is dry you can remove it and put it in the brooder.

 

[gimmie birdies]

when a baby is born they put alcohol on the belly button to DRY it up they don't add damp towels to it to make it fall off. that would just make it stinky and rot. the belly button is detacted and will absorb in the chick if it is dry. it gets absorbed when the air on the outside is NOT equal to the air inside it's belly. you keep it moist and the belly button will just sit there. I have 40 years hatching ex. thank you.

 

[drafthorserider]

It was the color of yolk and looked a bit like a tiny button, so I am assuming it is yolk sac. It is actually already smaller than it was, so I am hoping that it will be gone soon. How long does it normally take them to dry out? The chick is already holding up its head and looks much more coordinated. It also just went to the bathroom - always a good sign I am sure. I am working to find some local 1-4 day old chicks I can run out to get tonight in case this guy doesn't have any hatchmates.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I dry hatch my chicks so they don't get wet belly buttons. But everyone's situation is different.

edited by staff

 

[gimmie birdies]

you can also try mirrors and stuffed animal if you cannot find a chick

 

[sumi]

when a baby is born they put alcohol on the belly button to DRY it up they don't add damp towels to it to make it fall off. that would just make it stinky and rot. the belly button is detacted and will absorb in the chick if it is dry. it gets absorbed when the air on the outside is NOT equal to the air inside it's belly. you keep it moist and the belly button will just sit there. I have 40 years hatching ex. thank you.

I am talking about unabsorbed yolk, which should've been absorbed while the chick was still in the egg shell, in a wet environment. I have personally dealt with unabsorbed yolk sacs and found the best thing do in that situation is to keep the sac damp so it will be absorbed into the chick's abdomen. After that process is complete and the navel is sealed, the chick can be placed in a brooder where the navel area will dry out.

I believe you are referring to the "cord stump" which should dry out and be allowed to fall off, yes.