Chick pipped with beak out, but not zipping.

[Three Cedars Silkies]

The humidity should be around 60%....give or take. Sometimes they'll pip and wait 24-36 hours before zipping. There are certain things that have to happen inside the egg before the chick is ready to hatch. Let nature do what it's supposed to do and sit tight for at least 24 hours.

Keep us posted...

 

[Wynette]

Please try to not worry. I KNOW how hard that is, but I think you really ought to try to get that humidity down some more. Most folks try to keep it at 70...but since you've had it high, 60 may be a better goal for you. I'm wondering if there's a way to get some humidity out without jeopardizing the temperature...what kind of bator are you using?

 

[Andora]

It's a cooler incubator, the Miss Prissy kind. The only reason the humidity got so high was because the sponge accidentally touched a piece of egg carton and got it wet. But it's fine now! And the stuck chick is perfectly fine too. Look!

Isn't it adorable??

There are six chicks out now, and a seventh is zipping! All of them are healthy except for one, it hatched without the yolk fully absorbed and it has a stiff leg. The yolk is gone now and it's peeping and feisty, but that leg is stuck. Something is wrong with the joint, it's red and crusty.

I'm going to post that chick in the chick section later...

 

[Wynette]

Are these Ameraucanas? ADORABLE! I'm so glad the hatch went well! Yep - do post good, close-up pics of the one with leg issues; I'm sure someone will have insight on that one! CONGRATS!

 

[Andora]

The first chick is a Salmon Faverolle hen with an Easter Egger rooster and the second chick is a buff Brahma hen with the Easter Egger roo.

The first chick has four toes on one foot and five on the other.

 

[astylishgirl]

Adorable! I have a love/hate relationship with hatching. It stresses me out! When they pip, I want them to zip! And I just worry... worry... worry!

 

[Wynette]

OH! Different numbers of toes on each foot is just precious! WHAT a face on that one!

The Hoof - don't I know it! Nothing compares to seeing a chick finally pop the lid off that egg...and nothing is as stressful as being patient for it to happen!

 

[KnightslilAngel]

Quote:
Took my duck a day and a half to finally zip. dont worry about it. If it stops trying then give it a little warm water mixed with sugar

 

[Andora]

I opened the bator too much and the last two chicks were pipped, but I peeked in after 24 hours of no action and they were shrink wrapped. Totally my fault too.

I helped them a little by peeling a tiny bit of shell away and moistening the membrane with a warm q-tip, let it rest wrapped in plastic with the head slightly exposed, peeled a bit more, and then left the butt end of the shell intact so they can kick out when they are ready. They seem to be wiggling around a lot, so...

If those last two hatch, that will give me 10 chicks out of 14 eggs. I think that's pretty good! I candled the last four eggs and 3 looked like they had quit developing sometime after day 17 (last time I candled) and the other one was fully developed but when I cracked the air cell the membrane was all dried hard onto it, so I guess my humidity problems and opening up the bator killed that one. *sigh* But at least I got (hopefully) 10 out of 14, that's good enough for me, especially after that humidity spike and drop.

 

[Wynette]

Sounds like an excellent hatch to me!! I'm a firm believer in not helping. To me, those that are not strong enough to make it out (regardless of whether the memberane dries or not) may end up to be weak in other ways (such as a compromised immune system). But, I know some folks do help out in almost every hatch and have had fine results. It's a tough decision! Glad your little ones are doing well!