Did I kill it? I feel so bad :(

[Mommi3130]

Okay so my eggs are due to hatch on Saturday, I was going to go into lockdown tomorrow morning. Is that wrong?
Cause I just opened the bator to put in water and I have a pipped egg. Did I kill it? They were still in the turner.

I quickly took them out of the turner and shut the lid.
Can someone tell me if it will still hatch. I fell so bad

 

[reesepoultry]

No, you didn't kill it. I get in my bator during hatching process all the time to get the hatched chicks out. If I don't remove the hatched chicks they knock around the unhatched eggs and end up killing them.

Michelle

 

[FenDruadin]

No, it will be fine!

Make a note of when you first noticed it pip. If it has made absolutely no progress by the time several other eggs are hatched, or if it keeps expanding its pip in one location but never starts to zip even after several others have, then you may have to help it unzip. However, it will most likely be just fine. Just get that humidity well up and then sit on your hands for a couple days.

I also open my incubator twice a day during a hatch to remove babies and debris. I do make sure the humidity is really high first, though, and then check it again when I close the bator. Yours may have been drier for a bit longer than is standard for me, so I would still keep a close eye on it. But low humidity rarely kills them outright--it just makes it harder for them to zip.

Good luck and happy hatching!!

(P.S. No, you didn't do wrong. It's not uncommon for eggs to hatch a couple days early depending on incubation temps. In the future, you can practice candling to see how close they are to hatching. I always lock them down as soon as I start to see little bills in the air sac--sometimes that's a couple days early or a couple days late).

 

[FarmGirl01]

Mine are due also. Good luck with your hatch and don't worry about opening the bator. Don't forget to post pics.

 

[Mommi3130]

It hatched!! A beautiful little silkie! Out of my white roo and buff hen, both bearded! It is so cute!!

 

[Debbi]

YEEEEAAAA!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!

 

[kipper]

My Silkie and MFD eggs all began hatching earlier than 21 days. Is this typical? other breeds (like polish) took the full 21 days.

 

[Cattitude]

Congratz on your new baby!

 

[Slater1995]

Quote:
No, I check on mine all the time while they are piped and the all come out fine. I would take them out of the turner and put them on the floor of the bator and leave them you don't want them hatching in the turner. It may not zip and hatch until tomorrow so you have to sit on your hands.

 

[Mommi3130]

Quote:
I am not sure if it is normal, but I have 2 chicks so far and another few pipped and I am day 19 today!