External pip BELOW air cell

[cajun41887]

Thank you so much! Yes, I’ll get another pic now. Those pics were last night at 4am.

I just opened incubator and moved egg so pip is up and to the side. Membrane is NOT punctured. It felt dry but incubator running at 70% RH and I’ve not opened incubator except for just now. Quickly (within a minute or two, goes back to 70%). What should I do for this duckling? We only have 5 out of original 15 that have made it this far. Have another one internally pipped. 2 of the 5 I don’t see movement in and lots of vessels present in those ones.

Do I leave this one be and keep an eye on it? At what point to I intervene? It’s been internally pipped for just over 24 hours and I know the membrane isn’t punctured, just the shell has come off a little. I did remove the hanging bits of shell and duckling is moving, but I don’t hear and chirping from any of them. Lots of tapping noises from the 3 that are doing something. This is our first incubated hatch and as a vet nurse, I feel like I need to do something. Do I need to make a breathing hole for it and do I do that in the air cell or puncture where it has externally pipped?

 

[cajun41887]

 

[chickens really]

Yes, you can tear a tiny hole in the membrane, then leave it alone.

 

[cajun41887]

Yes, you can tear a tiny hole in the membrane, then leave it alone.

Should I use tweezers or what do I use? Don’t want to hurt the little guy.

 

[chickens really]

Should I use tweezers or what do I use? Don’t want to hurt the little guy.

Tweezers..you won't hurt it. Don't remove any more shell.

 

[007Sean]

I usually use a tooth pick.

 

[casportpony]

I just opened incubator and moved egg so pip is up and to the side. Membrane is NOT punctured. It felt dry but incubator running at 70% RH and I’ve not opened incubator except for just now. Quickly (within a minute or two, goes back to 70%). What should I do for this duckling? We only have 5 out of original 15 that have made it this far. Have another one internally pipped. 2 of the 5 I don’t see movement in and lots of vessels present in those ones.

Do I leave this one be and keep an eye on it? At what point to I intervene? It’s been internally pipped for just over 24 hours and I know the membrane isn’t punctured, just the shell has come off a little. I did remove the hanging bits of shell and duckling is moving, but I don’t hear and chirping from any of them. Lots of tapping noises from the 3 that are doing something. This is our first incubated hatch and as a vet nurse, I feel like I need to do something. Do I need to make a breathing hole for it and do I do that in the air cell or puncture where it has externally pipped?

View attachment 1627357

When mine do this I very carefully remove enough shell and membrane to expose the beak or bill, then I let them sit for at least 24 hours before doing anything else to them. @Pyxis wrote a very good article on how to assist, so please read that before you do anything.

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

 

[Miss Lydia]

Then how do you get a tiny piece of membrane or do you not? @007Sean

 

[007Sean]

Then how do you get a tiny piece of membrane or do you not? @007Sean

Were you asking me this question? If so, I don't pull the membrane out. Air can still get into the egg, no different than if it had pipped on it's own...also IMO keeps moisture in the egg, not as likely to become shrink wrapped.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes just wondering if you try and pull off a tiny bit of membrane but you answered.