Hatching help!

[rkbhjk10]

My chicks are in the process of hatching right now and I have one chick that has pipped through the shell toward the bottom of the egg (smaller end facing downward). Should I be concerned?

 

[Blackberry18]

That is something to be concerned about. Usually, the chick starts breathing through the air cell at the large end the last three days of incubation. If the embryo was facing the wrong way, it should have died from no air. Maybe the air cell was at the wrong end. You remember?

 

[rkbhjk10]

He is moving around and noisy, but the egg is also placed in a turner! I am very confused as to why he is turned upside down! Chick has created a very large hole though, I hope all is okay!

 

[rkbhjk10]

I don't ever remember the air cell being at the wrong end. All of them were at the large end of the egg facing upward.

 

[Blackberry18]

That's weird. I don't know why that would happen. But if the chick seems to be fine, then I suppose it's all right. Just keep an eye on it.

 

[rkbhjk10]

If it starts having some difficulty is there anything you suggest I can do? I am new to hatching little ones!

 

[dekel18042]

If it starts having some difficulty is there anything you suggest I can do? I am new to hatching little ones!

We had one with the head in the small end of the egg. It had pipped but didn't seem to be going any farther. My husband had to help it out (which makes me very nervous.) You can check out the threads on "Assisted Hatching." and my husband has had to do it several times, but usually it is an effort where the alternative is losing the chick. Other than the one at the wrong end, the others were just big chicks in eggs.

 

[Eliza1313]

I came across this article about a week or so ago, and thought of it when your thread came up on the homepage.

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

I have not done and hatching so I can offer no other advice. Hope the little one does well.

 

[rkbhjk10]

Well, I finally got the chick out early this morning! I was so nervous about helping, but I knew if I didn't the chick probably wouldn't make it. I did 100% of the work and at first, I was scared the little booger wouldn't make it. He wouldn't open his eyes or move much for about 3 hours! Now, he is running around with the others and looks like a healthy baby. I am crossing my fingers that this continues! Thank you, everyone, for all the help and support!

BUT!! Now, 2 other chicks just pipped through the shell with the SAME PROBLEM. This is so frustrating. I am sure going to have my work cut out for me today..this makes me extremely nervous. I was so happy to have the first one come out without any issues.

Can anyone tell me what causes this problem?

How long should I wait before helping? One of them looks like there is a watery white/yellow liquid close to it beak and nostrils. I don't want it to drown! What do I do?

 

[rkbhjk10]

Can anybody help me figure out why this happened? Makes me sad to think I may lose these 2!