Half Shell Hatch-A-Long! (Caution, unsuccessful, please read whole thread before attempting)

[MGG]

Can you see ETs face anymore?

I've had chicks that were breathing and peeping that hadn't penetrated the membrane yet. Both were assisted hatches. One was breathing heavily inside the membrane causing the membrane to move back and forth quickly like breathing in a paper bag (probably with limited oxygen because the blood vessels were mostly receded) so it was easy to see where to penetrate the membrane to make the internal pip for it, that was last year. The other was in my recent Marans hatch. It tried to pip and actually made a hairline crack in the external shell even but the membrane inside was really thick and didn't break. So that's twice that I've seen it first hand. I may need to read more on the science behind hatching because it doesn't make sense with everything I've read in the past but I had these chicks in my hands so I can't deny it.

I can't see her face, just her right hock and her back. I know I'm going to have to assist eventually. There's not much veining left, just that big red vein and a few hairline ones. Not much yolk either. It honestly has been running a bit high in there though, closer to 100/101. I've been trying to keep it down but the incubator only has one vent on top and it isn't adjustable. So ET might be a bit ahead.

 

[MGG]

I think usually they are internally pipped when they’re making noise. Could be a pip they can’t see since they didn’t open at the air cell. The chick could be in the wrong position.

I took the egg out of the contraption to check for pips and there aren't any. I candled the air cell and it's just a red colored area. Brown egg though so everything is red. There is no separation like an air cell would have. So confusing

 

[FortCluck]

I took the egg out of the contraption to check for pips and there aren't any. I candled the air cell and it's just a red colored area. Brown egg though so everything is red. There is no separation like an air cell would have. So confusing

It won’t be an external it would be an internal. You probably can’t see it

 

[MGG]

I don't know that it's typical because most of the time if I'm assisting they've already pipped or are malpositioned so I can't see it. I haven't had any opportunities to watch a healthy hatch without the shell on, lol. I guess that's what makes this experiment so cool though!

Lol! It's cool. I just don't want to lose ET so close to the end. Fingers are crossed!

 

[MGG]

It won’t be an external it would be an internal. You probably can’t see it

Ok. Any suggestions on what to do? Do I not do anything?

 

[FortCluck]

Ok. Any suggestions on what to do? Do I not do anything?

I’d wait. When’s the hatch date supposed to be

 

[FortCluck]

I’d wait. When’s the hatch date supposed to be

Could be why the veins were receding because she’s breathing air

 

[MGG]

I’d wait. When’s the hatch date supposed to be

Saturday, the 30th

 

[MGG]

Could be why the veins were receding because she’s breathing air

Isn't it early though?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Isn't it early though?

Yes, it's very early. The veins can recede prior to them pipping though. That's how I often assist malpositions, I wait until the blood vessels have receded enough to go in and assist.
I'm usually doing this on day 21 though.