Egg hatching for two days

[tifortis]

I have a quail egg that has been hatching for 2 or 3 days now but has only made a small hole. I can see it moving around inside. Should I help it hatch or leave it?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi assisting should only be done as a very last resort. Has it had the pip hole for two days now? If you do feel you need to help please read this first. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching. Hope this helps and the very best of luck with your hatch.

 

[MeepBeep]

If the external pip is over 36 hours old with no further progress, I would personally be assisting in the hatch... Chances are something is wrong or there is a complication at that point, but it's a call you have to make...

 

[tifortis]

Thank you for your help and the great link. The egg had been pipped for at least two days. So we partially opened it without breaking the membrane and left it for a few hours. The chick made no move to get out. I actually thought it was dead. My husband insisted on opening it and it was alive. The chick was quite dry. I don't think it will make it but I will let you know if it does.

 

[tifortis]

Much to my surprise our little guy is still alive and doing fairly well. Not as good as his sibling born later that night, but ok. Again thank you all so much for your advise.