ER HELP!! Is it time to get her out?!?!

[MagikalMisfitsMomma]

She's currently my my only egger chick, and my only seemingly troubled hatch (out of a hatch of 12/18 if she hatches & survives). The incubator temp is 99% and humidity is 60%. She pipped about 30-31 hours ago, but we're going on 24+ with the zip line and half crack away. The exposed membrane seems to be getting a brownish papery texture, and even her wing(?) seems kind of sticky looking. Her activity level has also drastically dropped (without anymore bursts of kicking or pushing). I have a small cup of water (covered with cheesecloth) to try and maintain a higher humidity. I nervous as heck to step in too soon, because I know the consequences can be fatal to the chick, but something just looks and feels wrong here. Any advice would be SO appreciated! I'm a long time chicken mama, but a first time incubator mama!

 

[TOR]

you could put alittle coconut oil (vegetable) on the membrane to keep it soft. The oil may dry after couple hours.
Not unusual to for chick to take break after pipping and start zipping 24 hours later.
You could take the egg shell off where the zipping has started very slowly and carefully if you feel a need to assist.
The chick may be taking a break or is getting wore out from trying to get out and running out of steam.
Heres articles if you choose to assist.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

 

[Pollmadoll]

you could put alittle coconut oil (vegetable) on the membrane to keep it soft. The oil may dry after couple hours.
Not unusual to for chick to take break after pipping and start zipping 24 hours later.
You could take the egg shell off where the zipping has started very slowly and carefully if you feel a need to assist.
The chick may be taking a break or is getting wore out from trying to get out and running out of steam.
Heres articles if you choose to assist.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

How is it going? I have assisted a few times . It is always successful and has saved a few lives . It is nerveracking at the time but so worth it

 

[MagikalMisfitsMomma]

How is it going? I have assisted a few times . It is always successful and has saved a few lives . It is nerveracking at the time but so worth it

I helped pop open her air pocket side and along her zip line a little, then put her back in her incubator with some damp, warm paper towels to push up the humidity a little. The membrane looks different than my others. I was making sure to keep an eye on it, in case the veins were still too big, or there was any blood. None of that, but the membrane is almost a yellowish color and you can't really see any veins at all. Now I'm totally confused and worried I may have hurt more than helped! but she's still breathing and seems to be responding to my other late bloomers peeps. But I know I'm not going to get any sleep until something happens either way...

 

[Pollmadoll]

Right now I have two guinea keets about to hatch but they are also taking too long and have not pipped.

I helped pop open her air pocket side and along her zip line a little, then put her back in her incubator with some damp, warm paper towels to push up the humidity a little. The membrane looks different than my others. I was making sure to keep an eye on it, in case the veins were still too big, or there was any blood. None of that, but the membrane is almost a yellowish color and you can't really see any veins at all. Now I'm totally confused and worried I may have hurt more than helped! but she's still breathing and seems to be responding to my other late bloomers peeps. But I know I'm not going to get any sleep until something happens either way...

Can you send a photo?

 

[MagikalMisfitsMomma]

How is it going? I have assisted a few times . It is always successful and has saved a few lives . It is nerveracking at the time but so worth it

Once I broke up the shell a bit she was able to get this far. I'm not sure if you can really see it in the picture, but I tried to get a shot of the membrane color

 

[Pollmadoll]

How is it going? I have assisted a few times . It is always successful and has saved a few lives . It is nerveracking at the time but so worth it

 

[birdlover2]

you could put alittle coconut oil (vegetable) on the membrane to keep it soft. The oil may dry after couple hours.
Not unusual to for chick to take break after pipping and start zipping 24 hours later.
You could take the egg shell off where the zipping has started very slowly and carefully if you feel a need to assist.
The chick may be taking a break or is getting wore out from trying to get out and running out of steam.
Heres articles if you choose to assist.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

I don't know anything about hatching but these are some good links to very detailed articles

 

[TOR]

The membrane may have started to shrink. You can use oil to soften that up and remove eventually.

 

[MagikalMisfitsMomma]

The membrane may have started to shrink. You can use oil to soften that up and remove eventually.

Thank you! It looks like it may be stuck to her in some spots. I just keep upping my humidity by spritzing warm water through one of the air holes, on the opposite side of the incubator. I'll look and see if I have any coconut oil. I normally keep a jar around!