Hatching time

[HenHoneyGirl]

I was wondering if there is a set time of how long it takes between a chick internal pipping to starting to zip. Or will some chicks just take longer than others? How do you know if you need to assist?

 

[huntersquail]

Chicks can take any amount of time really. I have seen them do it within an hour, but some may take 18+.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I was wondering if there is a set time of how long it takes between a chick internal pipping to starting to zip. Or will some chicks just take longer than others? How do you know if you need to assist?

A chick can take up to 24 hours + to go from internal pip to external pip and another 24 hours to go from pip to zip. All eggs/chicks vary. I seldom see eggs go from pip to zip in less than 8 hours. I just finished a hatch and recorded pip time and hatch time. 20 eggs-20 chicks. My quickest (which astonished me and was a first for me) was less than two hours my longest was 21 hours. Most of them took over 10 but less than 20 hours.

Assisting should only be done as a last resort and only if you know what you are doing and newbies should read the assisted hatching thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

The biggest two reasons or things to look for (in assesing if help is needed) is malepositioned pippers, (while many do fine hatching on their own, many also need assistance if they are going to get out alive,) and membranes that are dring out. (Dry membranes will turn a yellowish/brown and look leathery or sticky.)

Once a chicks starts to zip it should be out within half an hour on the average. Mine are usually fully zipped and pushed out in 15 minutes.

 

[dmbnj]

I believe the rule of thumb is that if you are watching, it will take as long as it possibly can; if you are away, it will hatch so quickly that you will miss it all.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I believe the rule of thumb is that if you are watching, it will take as long as it possibly can; if you are away, it will hatch so quickly that you will miss it all.

LOL I believe that is true.

 

[HenHoneyGirl]

Thank you for the advice!!! I'll just pray for a perfect hatch and that nothing will go wrong. Lol I'm not going to be able to be here for this hatch so i'm trying to load up my mom with as much info as possible but now she's terrified of shrink wrapping them!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you for the advice!!! I'll just pray for a perfect hatch and that nothing will go wrong. Lol I'm not going to be able to be here for this hatch so i'm trying to load up my mom with as much info as possible but now she's terrified of shrink wrapping them!

Tell her just keep the humidity up, (shoot for 70-75% at hatch) and she'll be fine. I am frequently opening my bator during hatch and not one problem. Shrink wrapping a chick is not as common or as easy to do as some hatchers make it sound and lots of people claim their chicks were shrink wrapped when they weren't. They key is to keep the humidity up. Obviously if she doesn't need to open that's great, but if she needs to, tell her humidity up and relax.

If she needs to open it and the humidity dips, have s sponge or paper towel and some water by the bator, wet it and toss it in and close it up. Humidity should bounce right back up. (As long as it's not held open for any length of time, of course.)