Hatch Along March 1st

[jhfamily5]

So after I posted, I read all about malpositioning! UGH!!! I went ahead and posted about it in the main incubating and hatching area. But feel free to tell me what to do on here.
Here is what is going on...


Pip happened between 10-12pm last night (Day19.5)
I heard chirping
It is the first one (don't want to mess up the other 14)
None of the others have pipped externally (that I can tell) correction: one more has pipped since first writing this.
It has been 6-8 hours since it pipped (I read to wait 12 before assisting)
I still hear chirping (could that be from the others?)
added: I saw it move just now at 6:45 am
So do I help it this morning if it has not hatched by 10am-12pm?
If so will it mess up my others? By 8am it will be day 20 for the batch?

Ooohh...tough call. I know in normal cases it can take up to 24 hrs from internal pip to external pip and then another 24 hrs from external pip to zip and hatch. I would probably give it until tonight as long as you still see movement from time to time. I have opened my incubator during lockdown to remove hatched chicks before and I just add a little hot water to my sponge to boost the humidity back to where it belongs and haven't ever had any trouble but I may have just been lucky too. There are so many references to opening the incubator and ruining a hatch that there must be something to it, however I haven't had that trouble. Jeepers...wish I could be more help. I think as far as EVERYTHING related to raising chickens, there are just too many variables. It seems like there will always be someone who swears you are doing something wrong while someone else will tell you that your right on. It just comes down to living and learning. If that egg were under a broody it would just be up to nature so if you don't assist, "try" not to feel bad (easier said than done I know) and if you do decide to step in, know that no matter what happens you truly felt like you were doing the right thing and don't feel bad then either. I wish I could just tell you what to do but I would honestly be just like you right now. Biting my nails, stressing and hovering over the incubator every 10 min to "see how they are doing". (Just guessing by your detailed time table-lol Not making fun I swear... I am just the same way.) Keep us posted and good luck

 

[jhfamily5]

Ooohh...tough call. I know in normal cases it can take up to 24 hrs from internal pip to external pip and then another 24 hrs from external pip to zip and hatch. I would probably give it until tonight as long as you still see movement from time to time. I have opened my incubator during lockdown to remove hatched chicks before and I just add a little hot water to my sponge to boost the humidity back to where it belongs and haven't ever had any trouble but I may have just been lucky too. There are so many references to opening the incubator and ruining a hatch that there must be something to it, however I haven't had that trouble. Jeepers...wish I could be more help. I think as far as EVERYTHING related to raising chickens, there are just too many variables. It seems like there will always be someone who swears you are doing something wrong while someone else will tell you that your right on. It just comes down to living and learning. If that egg were under a broody it would just be up to nature so if you don't assist, "try" not to feel bad (easier said than done I know) and if you do decide to step in, know that no matter what happens you truly felt like you were doing the right thing and don't feel bad then either. I wish I could just tell you what to do but I would honestly be just like you right now. Biting my nails, stressing and hovering over the incubator every 10 min to "see how they are doing". (Just guessing by your detailed time table-lol Not making fun I swear... I am just the same way.) Keep us posted and good luck

Just re-read that and saw my typo...you're right on...it always bugs me when people mis-spell that and I just did it! Ugh lol

 

[MommaBee]

Today is lockdown day for me! The nine fertile ones I got out of my 24 eggs still seem to be going strong, so I'll be happy for every one of them that manages to hatch.

Meanwhile, one of my broody hens hatched out four eggs last week, and I snapped a photo of her. Awwww, the chicks love their momma.

Ummm cutest thing EVER! This brought a smile to my face while I sit on my hands and wait!

 

[MommaBee]

Ooohh...tough call. I know in normal cases it can take up to 24 hrs from internal pip to external pip and then another 24 hrs from external pip to zip and hatch. I would probably give it until tonight as long as you still see movement from time to time. I have opened my incubator during lockdown to remove hatched chicks before and I just add a little hot water to my sponge to boost the humidity back to where it belongs and haven't ever had any trouble but I may have just been lucky too. There are so many references to opening the incubator and ruining a hatch that there must be something to it, however I haven't had that trouble. Jeepers...wish I could be more help. I think as far as EVERYTHING related to raising chickens, there are just too many variables. It seems like there will always be someone who swears you are doing something wrong while someone else will tell you that your right on. It just comes down to living and learning. If that egg were under a broody it would just be up to nature so if you don't assist, "try" not to feel bad (easier said than done I know) and if you do decide to step in, know that no matter what happens you truly felt like you were doing the right thing and don't feel bad then either. I wish I could just tell you what to do but I would honestly be just like you right now. Biting my nails, stressing and hovering over the incubator every 10 min to "see how they are doing". (Just guessing by your detailed time table-lol Not making fun I swear... I am just the same way.) Keep us posted and good luck

Yes, it is such a tough call! I have read and read, so maybe I will be prepared when and if the time comes. Thank you for sharing anxiety with me, haha. I feel like I am just one step away from being "the crazy chicken lady". I am still seeing movement and hearing chirps. I wish I could get the humidity higher for it. It is at 47 and the membrane is turning brown. And you are right. You read a million different opinions. I am hoping to rely on some instinct of when to step in. For now I will just sit and wait. And you are right again haha, I am hovering!

PS I didn't even notice the typo. I have horrible grammar, haha, I just appreciate the response!

 

[jhfamily5]

Yes, it is such a tough call! I have read and read, so maybe I will be prepared when and if the time comes. Thank you for sharing anxiety with me, haha. I feel like I am just one step away from being "the crazy chicken lady". I am still seeing movement and hearing chirps. I wish I could get the humidity higher for it. It is at 47 and the membrane is turning brown. And you are right. You read a million different opinions. I am hoping to rely on some instinct of when to step in. For now I will just sit and wait. And you are right again haha, I am hovering!

PS I didn't even notice the typo. I have horrible grammar, haha, I just appreciate the response!

You are very welcome. There's nothing like posting a question and then waiting...and waiting... Helps sometimes just to know you aren't alone in your worry and indecision. We all understand here. Perhaps a small piece of barely damp paper towel over it if worse comes to worse so it doesn't dry out, of course that means opening the incubator which might make it even worse. Darn. lol You could aways put in a little more hot water if you do decide to open it. Do you have a clean, new sponge you can put in to boost your humidity? This is how I have mine:
There is a little vent hole right above the sponge so I can use a syringe to add hot water to the sponge without opening if I need to and the cup keeps the little ones that hatch from getting wet from it. I don't have a hygrometer (have got to get one but the don't sell them anywhere around me so I have to order it online) but this seems to work great.

 

[DraigAthar]

I just witnessed my first pip!!! Like ever!!! Ahhh I'm so excited and no one is awake to tell!!
I went to go add water through my tube I set up for lock down. I noticed the humidity had been too low today, around 40-45. When I looked in it said 49??? It's because one pipped I guess! Then I heard a chirp!! It's pipped on the small end, not the fat end Hope that doesn't mean certain death, because I already feel attached, haha. I probably sound crazy to those with a lot if hatches under their belt but ahhh I'm so excited!

I've read your other replies about this and I understand your worry! It can be very nerve-wracking, truly! But I just wanted to point something out that you may not have thought of. Your chick pipped at the narrow end of the egg, so opposite the air cell, correct? The normal progression is pip internally --> pip externally --> unzip. It can be 48+ hours between internal pip and unzip. Well, the whole purpose of the internal pip is for the chick's lungs to start working. They break through into the air cell, the lungs start working, and the chick waits while the yolk sac is absorbed and all the veins lining the eggshell close off. Well, if your chick is backwards, there's no air cell to break into and they simply skip the internal pipping step and pip wherever they can, which is straight through the shell. The lungs need to start working one way or another! So often chicks that are backwards in the shell make their external pip way ahead of the other eggs. This doesn't mean they're ready to hatch yet, usually. It just means they skipped the internal step. They still need to wait many hours for all the developmental processes to finish before they are ready to unzip. So give the little guy time, don't rush in. Nearly all my backwards pippers make it out by themselves. I've only had to help a couple. So that little chick may surprise you yet!

 

[MommaBee]

I've read your other replies about this and I understand your worry! It can be very nerve-wracking, truly! But I just wanted to point something out that you may not have thought of. Your chick pipped at the narrow end of the egg, so opposite the air cell, correct? The normal progression is pip internally --> pip externally --> unzip. It can be 48+ hours between internal pip and unzip. Well, the whole purpose of the internal pip is for the chick's lungs to start working. They break through into the air cell, the lungs start working, and the chick waits while the yolk sac is absorbed and all the veins lining the eggshell close off. Well, if your chick is backwards, there's no air cell to break into and they simply skip the internal pipping step and pip wherever they can, which is straight through the shell. The lungs need to start working one way or another! So often chicks that are backwards in the shell make their external pip way ahead of the other eggs. This doesn't mean they're ready to hatch yet, usually. It just means they skipped the internal step. They still need to wait many hours for all the developmental processes to finish before they are ready to unzip. So give the little guy time, don't rush in. Nearly all my backwards pippers make it out by themselves. I've only had to help a couple. So that little chick may surprise you yet!

I think you are right! I never thought about it that way. But the truth is, it is only day 20, and only one other one has pipped. Makes total sense. Ok I am so glad I read what you wrote because I had everything set out and ready to intervene because I passed the 12 hour point. But I hear someone chirping, (assuming that is him/her) and I see it trying. Although it has made NO progress since 6am when I first checked it. And really other than a tiny piece of shell breaking off it has not changed since midnight when I first saw it. Still think I should wait? I know there is no way to know. Ugh, seriously this is my first hatch and the first chick would have to be backwards... what luck!

 

[MommaBee]

DraigAthar, I hope you don't mind me quoting on different board, but that just made so much sense. I appreciate you taking the time to type it all out!

 

[MommaBee]

You are very welcome. There's nothing like posting a question and then waiting...and waiting... Helps sometimes just to know you aren't alone in your worry and indecision. We all understand here. Perhaps a small piece of barely damp paper towel over it if worse comes to worse so it doesn't dry out, of course that means opening the incubator which might make it even worse. Darn. lol You could aways put in a little more hot water if you do decide to open it. Do you have a clean, new sponge you can put in to boost your humidity? This is how I have mine:
There is a little vent hole right above the sponge so I can use a syringe to add hot water to the sponge without opening if I need to and the cup keeps the little ones that hatch from getting wet from it. I don't have a hygrometer (have got to get one but the don't sell them anywhere around me so I have to order it online) but this seems to work great.

If I have to open it up later, I am definitely going to do this! Thanks!

Sorry everyone for taking up so much post space!

 

[DraigAthar]

MommaBee, you may definitely post it anywhere you like if you think it will help others.

And if it was me, I would wait. Assuming all of the eggs were set at the same time, and no one else has hatched yet, your little guy is not behind schedule yet. If it is still peeping and wiggling, then it's still alive and fine. You can do far more damage by trying to assist too early! Those little guys wiggle around a LOT before they start to unzip in earnest. If you candle an egg that has pipped internally, you'll see all the wiggling going on in there! I would say use the other eggs as a guide. If you start to have a few others unzipping all the way and your early pipper has made no progress, then you should start to worry. But right now I would bet the yolk sac is still not absorbed.