Help me out!! Quail egg zipping but I think the beak is stuck!!!

[BekahHah]

My jumbo quail started zipping at 10am today and seemed to do alright until near 12 this afternoon, it’s trying to zip but it’s beak is hanging out and unable to continue zipping. If it’s beak was pushed in maybe I could continue but right now it can’t turn. It’s chirping a lot and I don’t really know what to do because I heard they get out of their egg pretty quick when hatching. I have not opened the incubator and want to give the chick time to do its own thing but it has not made any progress. Also, there’s a slight discoloration around the broken membrane, yellowish..

 

[AltonaAcres]

I would assist. especially if he's cheeping frantically. Just quickly open the incubator, reach in, and then bring it out to work on it and help him. If there is blood, stop, apply cornstarch, and wait 2ish hours.

 

[BekahHah]

Thank goodness, someone is here to help me! It keeps talking but not frantically, the seller of the eggs told me to wait it out and give it time... but I don’t think he understands the quail’s current condition

 

[AltonaAcres]

He can live like this for probably up to 12 more hours, but there is no need to wait if it's obvious he's stuck and ready to come out.

 

[BekahHah]

It can really stay in it’s egg for that long? I just thought it would be malformed if it stayed in that position. And it did start at 10am so I have until 9pm? If it’s not out until then, how do I make the outside temperature and humidity perfect when I take the egg out to assist?

 

[TheBajan]

You don't have to make the outside temp/humidity perfect. Take it out and slowly, carefully assist. If you haven't done it before, there's an excellent thread that talks you through assisting step by step. Good luck and keep us updated!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

 

[BekahHah]

I saved it! But I think it has leg problems. Also I’m pretty sure it’s really attached to my incubator fan... I built my own incubator from a bottle and there’s a cpu fan at the top . Every time it turns on to control the heat, the chick spreads it’s wings and tries to stretch its hind legs to reach it. It even did it in its sleep, throughout the Entire night!

 

[AltonaAcres]

Wow! I'd love to see a picture of your homemade incubator! I have always wanted to make one. I am so glad you could help him. Could you describe his leg issues? Sometimes help-out chicks don't 'unravel' for quite some time. As long as it seems healthy otherwise (exhaustion is normal) he should be perfectly fine. God job! Help-out chicks always become my favorite.

 

[BekahHah]

Of course! I built it as a project since I was stuck at home and unable to go back to high school. I did put some bandaid and a piece of thin cardboard on its feet since they were so curled up but at the same time, it can’t really support its own weight. I think it my be splayed legs but not a serious case

 

[AltonaAcres]

What was your hatch rate? So cool!!