Final countdown - how long is too long?

[ASousa]

I have an orphaned egg and never hatched one on my own before. I've been lurking on the forums for about a week and learned all I could and so far so good. I candled when I first brought it inside and the veins looked healthy but no movement. I built an incubator and warmed him up and by the next day, there was movement! He was alive. I've been candling every couple days and as of midnight last night, I noticed he had pipped internally and there was a very fine, almost invisible crack in the shell. It's been over 12 hours and no further progress. I can still see him fluttering inside, no peeping sounds. At what point should I intervene? I don't want to jump the gun and hurt him. Is this normal? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have an orphaned egg and never hatched one on my own before. I've been lurking on the forums for about a week and learned all I could and so far so good. I candled when I first brought it inside and the veins looked healthy but no movement. I built an incubator and warmed him up and by the next day, there was movement! He was alive. I've been candling every couple days and as of midnight last night, I noticed he had pipped internally and there was a very fine, almost invisible crack in the shell. It's been over 12 hours and no further progress. I can still see him fluttering inside, no peeping sounds. At what point should I intervene? I don't want to jump the gun and hurt him. Is this normal? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

First off:

When they pip (which is what the crack in the shell constitutes) it can take anywhere from a few hours to 24 before they actually start zipping to hatch. My last hatch I had a handful that went around 21 hours before they finally decided to break free. Usually if there is no progress after 18 I will expand the pip and just check the positioning to make sure they are ok. Usually they are and I just put them back in and try to wait it out. Many people just leave them alone and let them be. (I'm a meddler, so I am more hands on.) Chances are if your humidity is up and he's still moving around he's fine. A good way to keep them moving is to periodically play "chick music" (it is a chicken, I am assuming?) . I use this video and play it periodically after they pip and then when they start to zip I play it almost non stop until they are out. (Which for me is usually w/in 15-20 minutes once they have started the zip.)

Good luck and I hope he puts in an appearance for you soon!

 

[ASousa]

I still see movement inside the egg but I cant see any defined shape of a beak, or a foot for that matter. If it was ready to pip, would the veins have shrunk more by now? Of what I can make out (which is very little because most of the egg is very dark) the veins still look well defined. Am I mistaking this or is there a possibility that my humidity dropped too low too often and he cant break through the membrane inside? Im so worried and Im afraid to go to bed and lose my little guy.

 

[ASousa]

I dont have a way to upload any pictures but I hope this little drawing helps illustrate what Im trying to describe.

 

[h2oratt]

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

 

[ASousa]

I've read that countless times now and I'm still uncertain so I've done nothing but watch and wait and play happy chick sounds.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I've read that countless times now and I'm still uncertain so I've done nothing but watch and wait and play happy chick sounds.

No, the veining does not draw back until after the pip. That's one of the many reasons it often takes so long for the chick to go from pip to zip-because the vascular system between the egg and chick has to shut down and the veins need to shrink up. That is also the number one reason that we do not "go in" after a chick especially before the pip has taken place. To do so is most likely to cause the chick to bleed out. If a chick has pipped and been pipped for 18 hours then you consider checking to see if you can or should help in any way. Before that there are more chances that you will kill a chick rather than save it. Sometimes they do die in the shell. And it makes us feel helpless, but again, I say, unless they have made that pip and have been given the time for veining to shut down, you can't "save" them.

If you have cracks in the shell that is your pip. (Unless something other than the chick put the cracks there.) Given time you should see movement at the pip and effort from the chick to make it bigger and eventually a zip around the egg. When you play the chick sounds, watch that cracked area for movement. Usually that motivates them and you can see it.

 

[ASousa]

Ok, very good to know! So late last night I suspected that he may have been having trouble actually breaking through the membrane into the air sac. It honestly looked like he was just pushing against it. The little cracks are so fine and barely visible, I dont think they came from him. So I cranked up the humidity (it was struggling at 45-50) and upped it to 65, sacrificed a little heat to do so, and left him for the rest of the night. This morning I checked on him and I can now see a very well defined beak! I think we're finally on the right track!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Ok, very good to know! So late last night I suspected that he may have been having trouble actually breaking through the membrane into the air sac. It honestly looked like he was just pushing against it. The little cracks are so fine and barely visible, I dont think they came from him. So I cranked up the humidity (it was struggling at 45-50) and upped it to 65, sacrificed a little heat to do so, and left him for the rest of the night. This morning I checked on him and I can now see a very well defined beak! I think we're finally on the right track!

Sounds perfect!!!!

 

[ASousa]

Still no progress! I dont know if this little guy is meant to make it or if I over worried and meddled too much. About 7 hours ago I made a little hole next to the beak to make sure he could breath and I could sleep. This morning I looked in and the inner membrane looks very dry. I think my little guy is shrink wrapped. I read the assisted hatching thread again and Im going to carefully remove the cap and try the bacitracin on the membrane as suggested. Wish me and him luck!