Chicks hatching - normal process? Emergency situation?

[wildgreen]

My broody hen is on day 20 and one of her five eggs pipped this morning! I just checked again and noticed that the outer shell is peeled off in a lot of places but the chick seems still stuck inside the membrane. It is peeping and moving a lot. Is this normal? Is the membrane too dry? Photo attached for reference. This is my first time ever doing this so any info is appreciated.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The membrane is likely dry if you can see it and it isn't safely hidden under the hen.
What isn't normal is being able to see a pipped egg under a hen sitting tight while chicks hatch. How did that happen?

 

[wildgreen]

The membrane is likely dry if you can see it and it isn't safely hidden under the hen.
What isn't normal is being able to see a pipped egg under a hen sitting tight while chicks hatch. How did that happen?

I lifted her this morning to retrieve any eggs laid by my other hens in her nest and saw one of hers pipping. This evening I checked again because we have a lot of ants where we live and I wanted to make sure there were none in her nest trying to get to the hatching chicks (I’ve taken measures to prevent this but wanted to make sure it worked). I briefly lifted her each time. That’s when I noticed this and snapped a photo. She is in the picture I took - I’ve just lifted her breast to briefly reveal the eggs.

 

[wildgreen]

The membrane is likely dry if you can see it and it isn't safely hidden under the hen.
What isn't normal is being able to see a pipped egg under a hen sitting tight while chicks hatch. How did that happen?

Never mind! The chick hatched

 

[Perris]

glad it worked out. Generally it's best not to interfere during a hatch, especially at the start of it, as the hen is trying to keep the temperature and humidity just right for hatching under her, and lifting her is like opening the lid of an artificial incubator.

 

[wildgreen]

glad it worked out. Generally it's best not to interfere during a hatch, especially at the start of it, as the hen is trying to keep the temperature and humidity just right for hatching under her, and lifting her is like opening the lid of an artificial incubator.

Yes, thank you! I won’t be doing so anymore. I boarded her area up so no other hens can disturb her and now that I know ants won’t be an issue I’m going to let her do her thing.