Chicks can't Hatch

[MallyCat22]

I have a batch of 10 chicks and all have pipped except for 4. I think the shells are to hard. The chicks are rocking around inside their shells, but just can't seem to get out. they've been moving since the day before. what should i do? the same thing happened with my last batch and the chickie ended up dieing in it's shell. What should i do??? Help!! I don't want to loose anymore chicks.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

if they have pipped they should be able to zip. Just wait... it could take a while. Dont open the incubator

 

[MallyCat22]

Actaully i have 4 eggs that are rocking but they havn't been able to hatch! i think the shells are too hard for the chicks. my last batch of eggs did the same thing and never hatched. they died inside their shells fully developed and ready to come out.

 

[FoxhallFarm]

How long past their due date are they? I lost half a batch of hamburg bantams and guineas last year in the same way. I found out too late that guinea shells are incredibly hard, but still wouldn't want to intervene too soon in case the yolk hasn't been fully absorbed yet. If they are the last to hatch then it may be they are delayed due to getting chilled when you were removing the others from the incubator? I wish you the very best with the rest of the hatch

 

[MallyCat22]

They're due today so i THINK i can wait another but i'm soooooo worried!!!

 

[FoxhallFarm]

Oh then I would defo give them another day but if they still don't make any progress you might be better off to let nature take it's course...survival of the fittest and all that, especially if you have had healthy chicks of the same batch hatch out ok.. I know that sounds harsh but I know from bitter experience that more than a day late hatchers are inevitably weak birds who may not make it no matter what u do to try to help them. However that being said, I have sometimes chipped into the air sac if I can see (with a candling lamp) an internal pip so that the chick can continue to breath while attempting to get out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, it's awful to get them this far only to lose them ... so stay positive & best of luck.

 

[justtoni44]

I am at day 24 and just got 2 today.............

 

[hinkjc]

What kind of bator are you using? Does it have a fan? What is the temp? Humidity? All of these things affect how they hatch. More info and we might be able to help. If they are pipped, my guess at this point is they are either not ready or need more moisture to get out of the eggs. Bringing humidity up allows them to turn inside the shell easier and complete hatch.

 

[MallyCat22]

Bator is a styrofoam without a fan. temp on the floor is 99.1. I dont have a way to check humidity. I was told at my local feed store "just fill those troughes with water and thats all you need" Both plugs are off the top and the water troughes are half full. All the eggs have pipped excecpt for the eggs from my chicken whose eggs have been historically very hard. Next time I'll get something for the humidity...