Chicken egg hasn't zipped yet ☹️

[knowvagale]

It's hard to say, but I think you should try to start helping. Just start in the air cell, put some coconut oil on the membrane, and stop if you see any large blood vessels. If you break a small blood vessel on accident you can try to stop the bleeding with a Q-tip. Since it's been nearly two days, you'll almost definitely be fine. It would be more risky to leave him in, I think.

 

[Anime2lover]

I'm inclined to agree that it needs help.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

okay I broke off a couple large pieces around the air cell and it looks really dry in there like its wing was stuck to its face so I wetted it with warm water and a q-tip

 

[Crestcrazy2]

 

[knowvagale]

I would use coconut or vegetable oil instead of water, it will take longer to dry and moisten it more effectively. It also might help to go into a humid room like a bathroom w/ hot water on to prevent farther shrink-wrapping

 

[Crestcrazy2]

Ok thanks

 

[knowvagale]

It looks good! I can't see any veins in the membrane so he was probably just too weak to hatch.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

Ok good

 

[de kippendame]

It's hard to know for sure, but I would wonder if they likely have. Some chicks pip & zip in nearly an hour, some take forever! I do my very best to be patient at hatch time & let the slow ones take their time. That said, my last hatch I lost one that had pipped and partially zipped then quit/got stuck and I refrained from helping. If you chip away some of the shell from the air cell, you might be able to see the blood vessels better. It also helps to moisten the membrane with coconut oil to see if the vessels are bright red or not.

I am also a sheep farmer and once the ewes get started, we give them an hour, two tops and then we're in helping because it likely means something is not quite right and if we wait any longer, we risk the baby and/or mom. 36 hours(ish) since pip would cause me to intervene.

If you just chip some away, it may make it easier for the chick to finish when it is ready. I know it's stressful to know if you're are doing the right thing or not, hang in there! If it is still moving, peeping, that is a good sign!

 

[knowvagale]

Any updates? Is the chick doing ok?