Eggs hatching too early

[kittycat1356]

I think you have ascertained the problem well. Early chicks generally mean warmer temps. My old lg always settled around 100-101 (forced air) and my hatches almost always started day 19/20. I had silkies that pipped day 18 in my silkie hatch. My chicks have always come out healthy though.
Whenever you do an assist or a pipped has a large area of membrane showing, if you put a light coat of Vaseline or non pain relief antibiotic (neosporin) on the membrane it keeps it from drying out and gluing to the chick.

Thanks for the Vaseline tip! Ill be sure to use it next time I have problems. So far a few more chicks hatched with no need of assistance, healthy looking I suppose.
I had one that piped and zipped about halfway and quit that I tried to save, he definitely wasn't ready, and Vaseline probably would have helped a bit. But I'm not sure if he was alive still when I attempted to help.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks for the Vaseline tip! Ill be sure to use it next time I have problems. So far a few more chicks hatched with no need of assistance, healthy looking I suppose.
I had one that piped and zipped about halfway and quit that I tried to save, he definitely wasn't ready, and Vaseline probably would have helped a bit. But I'm not sure if he was alive still when I attempted to help.

Usually (though not always) once they start a true zip line they are ready. I like to play chick music (youtube video of chicks cheeping) for them periodically when they start pipping and constantly when they zip. It helps motivate them. I never let a zipper pause longer than 15 minutes. If the "music" doesn't keep them going or get them going when they've paused I assist them out. Heard too many people say they had a chick zip half way and pause with out checking on them to have the chick die. And I am one of those that don't believe a chick that can't make it out by itself isn't healthy enough to be born, (especially in regards to malpos). We often cause improper conditions for perfectly fine chicks that are 100% healthy after an assist.

 

[kittycat1356]

Yeah he still had yolk, there was a yellow substance on the zip too. (Not the sticky white stuff, it was yellow and a little less sticky, it didn't smell or anything either so I didn't think it was bacteria) and when he passed I did an eggtopsy he did still have the yolk still.
I talk to them through the incubator and tap the lid when I see one pipped or trying to zip. Also the hatched chicks are about a foot from the incubator so they probably do hear some other chicks still lol

 

[SummerMeadow]

We have Americauna x Dark Brahma eggs hatching at day 19. Has anyone noticed that this cross hatches early? 9 out of 10 hatched by the mother. Crazy early when you think about it.