Coturnix Quail First Hatch! Do I need to intervene?

[Quispherer]

Hi there. I always wanted chickens but quail kind of got dropped into my lap and I'm a quail lady now and I went into it head first.

This little guy just hatched this morning! About 45 minutes ago really.

He was the third egg to pip, about 18 hours ago. Im so excited I feel like im going crazy. The real thing driving me crazy is the first egg to pip. Lil guy pipped 36 hours ago, but I think he may have externally pipped when everyone else was pipping internally. But 36 hours feels like a LONG time?

Its hard to see but this egg has about 3 or 4 very clear spots he's poked through the shell. He's not zipping around, he's making a line straight down, perpendicular to the usual quail zip.

Does this mean this one is likely malpositioned? Being new Im afraid that Im jumping to conclusions and want to intervene too early but it would be tragic if the first Lil guy couldn't make it out on his own and I could have helped him but didnt.

As a note Im totally cool being hands on, I've read the guide for assisting, I just also know how dangerous it is to go in too early.

Pip #2 was also about 18 hours ago and has not made progress but I'm not nearly as worried for that one. Its got a solid dent lol.

Thanks all, hope to learn a lot and read lots of everybody's posts

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’ve had coturnix go 60 hours pip to zip, just let 5hem do their thing! You’ll do more harm than good in most cases. If you do try and help and see blood, stop and wait longer, the chick isn’t ready. Have fun, quail are addicting!

 

[Nabiki]

If your chick has been pipped for more than 24 hours, it probably needs help. Be aware, however, and if a chick has problems hatching, it usually has problems for reasons and is not likely to make it.

It is your choice whether to assist or not.