Day 22. I think I see an internal pip

[lazy gardener]

I'm not going to preach, they are your eggs and you are going to do what you are going to do, I can only relay my own experience. I wasn't always like this, with a "no assist" policy. My first hatch ever, I didn't research and wasn't on BYC. It took much longer than I thought it would, and the chicks just looked so weak that I felt like I had to help. I'm going to be graphic and describe what happened to try and persuade you to be patient. My chick was in the exact same position as yours. I opened the incubator to help, unknowingly shrink wrapping 3 other chicks that later died. I peeled away the shell until the chick could wiggle out, but it still had a little cord attached to a piece of shell that is was dragging behind it, and it was cheeping like crazy. I thought it must be the shell that was aggravating it, so I broke the cord to free it from the shell. It started bleeding. As it flopped all around the incubator, it spread blood from one end to the other. There was blood on the floor, on the walls, and on the chick. After a few hours of this, I took it out and put it in the brooder. The few chicks that I did manage to hatch immediately started pecking at the red wound. The chick slowly bled out for the next 36 hours and started to smell. Eventually I had to kill it to put it out of it's misery. Some people can help, and done properly it may work, but I never recommend it for a first time hatcher. Please be patient

So sorry for this tragic experience. I can understand why you feel as you do about assisting.

 

[blitzons]

thank you everyone for your advice. I had one lavender orpington hatch. His membrane got dry so I assisted a little (I waited at least 14 hours before helping him.) He is currently very loudly chirping in the incubator.

 

[WalnutHill]

Congratulations on your successful hatch! It sounds like the humidity may have been a touch low.

 

[ToxicLily]

Last year my first chick was born on the 23rd? And third chick on the 25th under natural hen

 

[blitzons]

I have two eggs under my broody Silky they are due soon. I will be running my incubator until the 25th day

 

[blitzons]

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Congrats!

 

[ToxicLily]

Omg so adorable! Congrats!

 

[blitzons]

My broody hen hatched me an amazingly healthy chick! He is in great shape. Unfourtnatly she was ignoring him so I put him with my incubator baby