Chicks are hatching but shrinkwrapped

[BlueShadow]

Humidity has been low all incubation - not sure why as I really tried to keep it up and it's been humid here, but they lost 20% of their weight by day 18. Styrofoam incubator, filled both wells, plus added a dish with a sponge.

Anyway, that's done, here we are, day 20 and hatch started early. So far 6 of 11 eggs have hatched. The remaining 5 have all pipped, but their membranes are white, opaque, and dry. One chick has broken a hole big enough that I can see in and see it is shrinkwrapped. I put Vaseline on the membranes I can see.

Is there anything else I can do? Is there anything else I should do? I usually feel like helping chicks hatch is just getting the weak chicks out of the shell so they can get sick later, but in this case, it is obvious that something did not go right during incubation and that has hurt them.

 

[BlueShadow]

I guess I panicked a bit too soon. Just the minimal intervention I did (picking up the eggs, making sure the membrane was open and not sealed back shut, putting Vaseline on the membrane), plus an hour of waiting, and one more chick hatched and one opened the shell farther.

I found a learning center article that also had the helpful suggestion of a damp paper towel, so trying to boost humidity in the incubator that way right now.

I still would appreciate if anyone has more helpful suggestions. At the moment, my planned "intervention" is to give them at least a few more hours (if not all night...)

 

[HuskerHens18]

Humidity has been low all incubation - not sure why as I really tried to keep it up and it's been humid here, but they lost 20% of their weight by day 18. Styrofoam incubator, filled both wells, plus added a dish with a sponge.

Anyway, that's done, here we are, day 20 and hatch started early. So far 6 of 11 eggs have hatched. The remaining 5 have all pipped, but their membranes are white, opaque, and dry. One chick has broken a hole big enough that I can see in and see it is shrinkwrapped. I put Vaseline on the membranes I can see.

Is there anything else I can do? Is there anything else I should do? I usually feel like helping chicks hatch is just getting the weak chicks out of the shell so they can get sick later, but in this case, it is obvious that something did not go right during incubation and that has hurt them.

Hello, fellow Nebraskan

If they are shrink wrapped I don't think they can even move. If all veins and yolk are absorbed, personally I would assist them. Again, that's just my own personal feeling.
Ive never had shrink wrapped chicks, I want to tell you to wait a bit longer, but I'd feel terrible if they died because I told you to wait.
If the yolk and veins are absorbed, that means they're ready to hatch, but since it's only day 20 I'm not sure they're all ready yet.

If the incubator is too hot, I believe that causes early hatches. Cold temps cause late hatches.

My advice! Wait maybe another couple hours and maybe the incubating experts can give their expert advice! I'm still new.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Humidity has been low all incubation - not sure why as I really tried to keep it up and it's been humid here, but they lost 20% of their weight by day 18. Styrofoam incubator, filled both wells, plus added a dish with a sponge.

Anyway, that's done, here we are, day 20 and hatch started early. So far 6 of 11 eggs have hatched. The remaining 5 have all pipped, but their membranes are white, opaque, and dry. One chick has broken a hole big enough that I can see in and see it is shrinkwrapped. I put Vaseline on the membranes I can see.

Is there anything else I can do? Is there anything else I should do? I usually feel like helping chicks hatch is just getting the weak chicks out of the shell so they can get sick later, but in this case, it is obvious that something did not go right during incubation and that has hurt them.

I would wait minimum 24 hours post external pip, and then slowly try to assist if they pipped straight to the shell and not into the aircell wait 48 hours before helping. and read this first:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

good luck hope it all works out.

 

[BlueShadow]

Hello, fellow Nebraskan

If they are shrink wrapped I don't think they can even move. If all veins and yolk are absorbed, personally I would assist them. Again, that's just my own personal feeling.
Ive never had shrink wrapped chicks, I want to tell you to wait a bit longer, but I'd feel terrible if they died because I told you to wait.
If the yolk and veins are absorbed, that means they're ready to hatch, but since it's only day 20 I'm not sure they're all ready yet.

If the incubator is too hot, I believe that causes early hatches. Cold temps cause late hatches.

My advice! Wait maybe another couple hours and maybe the incubating experts can give their expert advice! I'm still new.

It was only the top portion of that chick that the membrane had dried, against the air cell. It was not completely shrink wrapped. So it still could move, but some membrane is stuck to the fluff. Maybe I used the wrong term??

I had 2 thermometers in the incubator, it should have averaged 99.5 as close as I can tell when the thermometers only measure to the closest degree. One read 99 and one read 100 most of the incubation. They were very fresh eggs though, so hatching a day early doesn't surprise me too much.

I am south of you, although the eggs came from your corner of the state.

 

[HuskerHens18]

It was only the top portion of that chick that the membrane had dried, against the air cell. It was not completely shrink wrapped. So it still could move, but some membrane is stuck to the fluff. Maybe I used the wrong term??

I had 2 thermometers in the incubator, it should have averaged 99.5 as close as I can tell when the thermometers only measure to the closest degree. One read 99 and one read 100 most of the incubation. They were very fresh eggs though, so hatching a day early doesn't surprise me too much.

I am south of you, although the eggs came from your corner of the state.

OH okay, I understand. I think keeping your humidity up with the paper towel will help. Just expect the chick to not be fluffy for a while, my malposition chick didn't get fluffy until I gave him a bath a couple days after hatching.
I had an awful time with my thermometers, I had two and the one broke halfway through the hatch and kept telling me the temp was 70°, when it clearly wasn't. The other one said 102°, but that wasn't accurate either as my hatch was right on time. I'll have to calibrate the one and just get a few different ones for next time

I bought my hatching eggs from Breslau Poultry, near Plainview

 

[BlueShadow]

I bought my hatching eggs from Breslau Poultry, near Plainview

Breslau didn't quite have the breeds I was looking for, so I got eggs from Tarbox Hollow, in Dixon. I had them shipped, as it would have cost me more to drive there as have them shipped, and my kids would not have enjoyed that trip.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Breslau didn't quite have the breeds I was looking for, so I got eggs from Tarbox Hollow, in Dixon. I had them shipped, as it would have cost me more to drive there as have them shipped, and my kids would not have enjoyed that trip.

Ooh I might check them out next year. I never see any ads for chicken eggs/chicks so I never know where to look. I'm good friends with Shelley (she does Breslau poultry by herself) so I get her extras pretty cheap if no one is buying.
I've never done shipped eggs, with my incubating skills lacking much experience I'm not sure I could handle it lol!