Hatching assistance

[crowers]

Hi everyone. This is our first time hatching; we’re using eggs from our flock and the Little Giant incubator with heater & automatic tuner. Two chics popped since Memorial Day. We’re concerned that one egg in the process of hatching is having difficulty. The chic is (loudly) chirping but seems to be really struggling to get through the thick membrane. We saw the first crack yesterday around noon after when we removed our second chic from the incubator. At first, we thought we would have another chic by last night, but, nope.

I’ve combed through various posts with some folks advising not to help and a couple saying they have healthy chics after helping. Wondering what to do for the lil guy.

The first photo is at 1:16pm yesterday and the second is this morning at about 10am.

I appreciate suggestions.

 

[Debbie292d]

Chicks can take 24 hours from pip to hatch and I've seen that many times. You opened the incubator though on this one. This is why I won't open it no matter how fluffy and cute they look if I see any pipped. You probably didn't see it until you opened it though. It may have been shrink wrapped (the membrane stuck to it from the drop in humidity.)

Assisted Hatch: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Good luck!!

 

[crowers]

Chicks can take 24 hours from pip to hatch and I've seen that many times. You opened the incubator though on this one. This is why I won't open it no matter how fluffy and cute they look if I see any pipped. You probably didn't see it until you opened it though. It may have been shrink wrapped (the membrane stuck to it from the drop in humidity.)

Assisted Hatch: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Good luck!!

I've read about shrink wrapping, unfortunately though, we had to get the 2nd new chic out. I increased the humidity and am keeping watch. Thank you for the providing the link to the assisted hatching info. I will gather my supplies and be ready. Thank you so very much!!

 

[Altairsky]

It's almost 24 hours, I would assist. If the chick is making loud distressed chirps, and the membrane has no blood vessels at all, I would definitely assist.

 

[crowers]

Hi everyone. We assisted as Altairsky suggested using coconut oil as noted in the link Debbie provided and voila, we have Coco (the first pic)! The membrane was very dry, so, Coco may not have made it without the assist. Woohoo!!

By the way, Cinnamon pipped while we were working to free Coco. By the time we got Coco squared away, Cinnamon (lying on the paper plate in the 2nd pic) popped out! They have joined their siblings, Memorial & Nugget, in the brooder! Last photo with all babes.

Thank you so much!