Externall pipping 30 hours ago- no zipping yet-any advice welcome!

[pamelajy15]

I have some eggs hatching...it is an elementary attempt. The first chick hatched with no problem and is doing fine. Two chicks hatched and I lost both of them...They pipped 6 hours after the first chick and hatched the next morning. They were weak, wet, never strong enough to stand on their own. temp is just below 100. I supplemented with electrolytes in water to them and they did get stronger for the day but I lost them in the end.

One egg began an external pip 30 hours ago. Strong tapping and peeping. Pip is open about 1/2" starting to dry around the edges. Chick is getting weaker...trying to leave her alone. Misting the shell when I check on it. Any thoughts on when I should assist? I do not want to lose this one.

Incubator is a closet, heated. Temps are good. I'm in Florida, humidity is ever present. Chicks are mixed breed...Roo was a buff Orp...This chick, from a Jersey Giant hen.

Lost my sweet Roo to a Barred Owl three weeks ago and in my sadness, set some of his eggs...what a learning curve.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I would not mist egg remember the wet chicks? they need to take time to hatch, they don't instant hatch. they poke a hole in the egg then rest get used to our air and then they will come out. she has air if she poked a hole I would leave her be. if you hatch again, and you have home made incubator try dry hatching. I live in a desert and dry hatch the chicks come out nice and moist on their own. read up on it and see what you think.

 

[gimmie birdies]

some times if I lose a roo I go to the fridge and grab some eggs- my last batch was stagered because I gave away a frizzle roo. I have 2, 2 week olds, one is a frizzle roo, one is a suprise chick from a roo I didn't think was breeding, he was a white leghorn/EE mix, so that chick is ee/silky/cochin/leghorn. then 2 in bator in their air cells.

 

[pamelajy15]

Thank you for your reply. I will check out dry hatching. It seems I will lose this last one too. Still have one strong chick 3 days old now. It is confused about being alone after peeping with the last three chicks. After researching here, I think I have lost them to some kind of yoke infection. I sterilized and moved the single chick to a small brooder box. It's not showing any problems, but now I'm worried...I am thinking I will have to raise a "house chicken" until she's old enough and big enough to handle the rest of the girls. Hopefully she won't think she's a dog. lol
Thanks again for the advice.

 

[bhaugh]

I had a chick do what yours did (pip then not zip). I ended up helping her out of the shell and realized once she got out, had lost her egg tooth. She would have never gotten out on her own. I just placed her and the other two chicks who pipped and zipped fine on their own. She is a bit of a scrapper and at 2 weeks old, I'm glad I helped her out. I worried about it while I was chipping away at the shell but I figured she was dead if I didn't help her out, so I did it.

Sorry your other two passed on.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a single chick last winter, I had a mirror for him and a stuffed animal. at night, I would let him sleep with a broody in a box. eventually he was old enough to go outside with the mom in a heated cage. good luck with your chick.

 

[pamelajy15]

Fate is leaving me a lone chick to raise...she is in a heated box...has 3 mirrors...music during the day while humans work...moved her into the house to be around activity...husband says she'll have to sleep on my side of the bed...

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have used a heating pad at night- helps them to sleep in the dark so they don't PEEP_PEEP_PEEP! My little one is now with 2 chicks a couple of weeks older all is well.