First Time Hatching - Questions and Concerns on Day 20

[cmom]

Give the chicks a chance. Sometimes after they pip, they may not zip for awhile while they are absorbing the yolk. After the chick has been pipped for around 24 hours then you can check and see if it needs assistance. If you do assist and see any blood, stop and wait awhile. Usually if you try to assist too soon after a pip the chick may not be quite ready to hatch. The chicks can hatch a day or two early or a day or two late depending on how steady the temperature has been. Humidity is another issue. If you need to go into the incubator, you can always mist the eggs a little with warm water and that will bring the humidity up quickly but then sit on your hands again and let it stabilize. I usually incubate under or around 40% and bring the humidity up to around 75% during lock-down. I just had a hatch on Tuesday. My next hatch is in a couple of weeks. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Offshoreorca]

Im

Give the chicks a chance. Sometimes after they pip, they may not zip for awhile while they are absorbing the yolk. After the chick has been pipped for around 24 hours then you can check and see if it needs assistance. If you do assist and see any blood, stop and wait awhile. Usually if you try to assist too soon after a pip the chick may not be quite ready to hatch. The chicks can hatch a day or two early or a day or two late depending on how steady the temperature has been. Humidity is another issue. If you need to go into the incubator, you can always mist the eggs a little with warm water and that will bring the humidity up quickly but then sit on your hands again and let it stabilize. I usually incubate under or around 40% and bring the humidity up to around 75% during lock-down. I just had a hatch on Tuesday. My next hatch is in a couple of weeks. Good luck and have fun...

I’m sitting back and watching - was just worried the membrane was drying out too much as I had opened the incubator before I knew it had pipped. Will refrain from helping for a while as the second egg has pipped. Here’s to hoping!

 

[Offshoreorca]

Update - we are nearing the end of day 21. So far 4 eggs have pipped (the last two in the last hour while I was gone for a walk). The chick that pipped first - sometime last night or early this morning - isn't out yet and the membrane is a little dry, but I'm not sure if it's just a large pip and it'll zip overnight or whether it's stuck. The chick is breathing well and becoming more vocal, so I'll leave him be for now. The other pips are very small, but I know it takes time to zip after they pip often Seems so far like just a late hatch. Waiting to see if the other two eggs will pip as well.

 

[HogWildAboutChix]

Does the membrane colour look okay?

Ive had eggs with coloration to the membrane and they hatched fine. I havent nailed down an exact cause, but my guess is maybe remaining yolk fluid in the egg!

 

[KirstKennedy]

Not much activity, but one did externally pip on the bottom of the egg this morning - I had to put it upright. Hopefully more will follow!

I've got 4 pips now so I think I worried for nothing. Lots of chirping too. Glad to hear you've got some pips now too. Try and sit on your hands! lol

 

[HogWildAboutChix]

Without reading back - this is your first hatch?

If you feel compelled to "help" - do lots and lots reading and watch some videos. Its very dangerous to the chick. Can cause fatal bleeding and other graphic injuries. I guess you can say well what's the harm if it isnt going to make it out anyway. But!!!! It can take till the end of day 22 sometimes. So don't rush in. Ive had eggs with large pips since early AM hours today, and still no chicks. But they will all be rolling out soon!

My stance is - let them be! But maybe Im just chicken!!!!

Good Luck!

 

[Offshoreorca]

Without reading back - this is your first hatch?

If you feel compelled to "help" - do lots and lots reading and watch some videos. Its very dangerous to the chick. Can cause fatal bleeding and other graphic injuries. I guess you can say well what's the harm if it isnt going to make it out anyway. But!!!! It can take till the end of day 22 sometimes. So don't rush in. Ive had eggs with large pips since early AM hours today, and still no chicks. But they will all be rolling out soon!

My stance is - let them be! But maybe Im just chicken!!!!

Good Luck!

Well, it's my first hatch in many years and with this incubator, but my dad use to hatch them all the time when I was a child in the culture incubator in the veterinary clinic (he is a veterinarian) - so I have seen a lot of hatches before. Most of these were from abandoned nests or when a predator got the nesting hen (as all our chickens, ducks, and peafowl lived free range). I assisted a duckling hatch 2 years ago and he grew up to be a thriving muscovy drake. So, I am aware of what to do if I need to assistant - it's just deciding when that is the hard part, but I've decided that I'll wait until the others are out as the chick in question seems to be breathing well and peeping Thanks!

 

[Offshoreorca]

Update: Five of the six eggs have pipped - so far no one is out yet, but the first one is peeping loudly and I think I can hear some of the others from inside their shells. Just waiting for the zip now

 

[Sixandahalfacres]

Exciting - hope the rest of the hatch goes well and the babies all make it out ok!

 

[HogWildAboutChix]

That is awesome - youve for skills!! If you ever have to open an egg up to help - make a video!!!!

I have 10 eggs pipped this evening and 1 chick out! Will have bator full in the morning!