HELP! CHICK STARTED ZIPPING BUT STOPPED

[Chickenladyyy123]

I have my first 2 out of 17 hatching today. The first one started last night but has not done too much since then. It’s chirp isn’t as strong as it was last night either. I’ve heard that you are not supposed to open the incubator during lockdown so if you were to help one along, how would you do that without putting the rest of the eggs in jeopardy?

After about 14 hours of it
not continuing to zip and getting weaker, I really really quickly took it out and picked away parts of the shell and put it back in. It was able to hatch perfectly fine after that and the other eggs that had pipped hatched without any issues whatsoever. I think you should wait a couple more hours, but if it’s been way too many hours and the chicks hasn’t continued zipping, then you should help it out a bit. If you do open the incubator to help it out, try taking out the egg as quickly as possible to minimize the risk of the other eggs getting shrink wrapped.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I have my first 2 out of 17 hatching today. The first one started last night but has not done too much since then. It’s chirp isn’t as strong as it was last night either. I’ve heard that you are not supposed to open the incubator during lockdown so if you were to help one along, how would you do that without putting the rest of the eggs in jeopardy?

The biggest concern is keeping the humidity up and not chilling any freshly hatched chicks. How you help, is you reach in, pull out the egg you want to help and close the incubator. Work on the egg for no more than 5 min unless you put it on a heating pad and then quickly put it back. If the humidity drops add lukewarm water so it can get into the air more quickly.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

After about 14 hours of it
not continuing to zip and getting weaker, I really really quickly took it out and picked away parts of the shell and put it back in. It was able to hatch perfectly fine after that and the other eggs that had pipped hatched without any issues whatsoever. I think you should wait a couple more hours, but if it’s been way too many hours and the chicks hasn’t continued zipping, then you should help it out a bit. If you do open the incubator to help it out, try taking out the egg as quickly as possible to minimize the risk of the other eggs getting shrink wrapped.

Thank you. That helps give me a little confidence. I'm going to give it a few more hours as you suggest. I really appreciate the help.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

The biggest concern is keeping the humidity up and not chilling any freshly hatched chicks. How you help, is you reach in, pull out the egg you want to help and close the incubator. Work on the egg for no more than 5 min unless you put it on a heating pad and then quickly put it back. If the humidity drops add lukewarm water so it can get into the air more quickly.

Thank you! Your instructions are great - I really appreciate that! This is my first experience with chickens. (Pretty obvious I suppose ) I am so grateful for the help. The heating pad is a great idea!

 

[Chickenladyyy123]

Thank you. That helps give me a little confidence. I'm going to give it a few more hours as you suggest. I really appreciate the help.

No problem! I hope everything goes well, keep us updated.