External Pip starting below air cell line

[KatieRogers]

Awoke to my first internal pip this morning at 6:30ish but it looks like the chick is piping externally below the air cell line. Is this going to be a big problem? So far it's just cracks and no real hole. How long can I let it go before I need to help? Last time I heard cheeping was about a half hour ago. This is my first hatch and I'm sooooooo nervous!!!!!! Oh and today is day 21.

Katie

 

[ls430fl]

today is day 21 for me too... I saw a crack last night at 12:00 its only slightly bigger as I am writing this. I posted a topic earlier today go look it might help you out as well. Everyone advised me to leave it alone for a while could take 12+ hours to hatch. Hope this helps! Good luck with your hatch!!

 

[KatieRogers]

Thank you so much, I went and read your thread and it has made me breathe a little easier. Not much progress yet but chick is still moving and peeping in there and the crack is slightly bigger than it was at noon. Have had another internal pip so I'm hoping the rest follow suit and start coming out of their shells so I can stop worrying!!

Katie

 

[ls430fl]

I know it's so stressful the suspense is killing me! haha I just posted an updated pic in my thread...making a little process has been 19 hours now. It is still chirping and wobbling so I am hoping like you said some of the other chicks hear it and start to follow.

 

[ls430fl]

here is a good link I just found as well. Makes me feel better

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/502392/how-long-from-pip-to-zip/10

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Too soon to worry. The internal pip is when the chick punctures the inner membrane--at this point you can hear a cheep, when they go a step further and puncture the eggshell it is called external pip, this is what yours have done.

I hate it when they pip on the small end of the egg and it can be trouble--but 75% of mine that have pipped on the wrong end have still hatched. Most of my chicks take around 24 hrs from 1st external pip to hatch. You should be fine--let us know how it goes. 1st hatches are real nail biters!

 

[Poohb10454]

How is it going? I'm on day 20 and had our first pip last night. Have 5 now but one is 1/8" or so below the aircell. I hope it's ok! This is my first hatch. I didn't know it would be this stressful

 

[KatieRogers]

As of this morning we have 3 new chicks!! First one hatched around midnight and the other two sometime between then and 6:30 this morning. I can't tell if I have any more pips because the 3 chicks have knocked the eggs all up to the walls of the incubator. They are not getting fluffy though, is that normal?? I don't know if they are still damp or if they are sticky. Do chicks usually need a bath before they go in a brooder??

Katie

 

[ls430fl]

wow congrats! the one I was worried about hatched last night too. Woke up to another pip. (some of my eggs are due saturday). Just for reference mine hatched last night around 9 and is still not dry yet. Slowly fluffing up from the back area forward. Still looks pretty wet though.

 

[lazy gardener]

If your humidity is high, it will take them quite a while to dry... but you don't want to open the bator b/c that will jeopardize your still pipping eggs. Remember, they are ok for 72 hours. Plenty of time.