Help me, please?? Possible pip problem?

[melanie]

So far everything has progressed normally with the incubation, and I've kept a close eye on temps and humidity. I've had lowish humidity until lockdown which was 36 hrs ago. During lock down I've kept (far as I can tell with wetbulb & a humidity meter) humidity at 65-70%. My question is I had a small pip 6 hrs ago (1:30 pm). It isn't a hole, just a small area pushed out with cracks in the shell. How long should I let it remain like this unchanged. I hate to tamper with the humidity/temp. It's been chirping off and on today, although I haven't seen much rocking lately. I'm sure it has to rest a lot in between all that work it's doing to get out. How many hours should I wait to slightly chip away a breath hole?

Also, if I have to intervene, what should I do it in the bathroom with a hot shower running (to get humidity up) & a heat lamp close by while I work? I hate for it to cool off and dry out as I'm working. Help please???? Thanks you

 

[fried green eggs]

Give it more time

. I have had ones that pip and start chirping a full day before they start to hatch. It needs time to close down blood vessels, develop it's lungs and absorb the yoke. Don't intervene - it is much too early for that! When it needs more air it will make the hole larger and start to zip. Here is a link that will give you something to do while you wait and I think it's a Must Read for all new hatchers and it will answer all your questions. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 Good Luck with your hatch

 

[melanie]

Thank you so much! I'm going to clean house and have a glass of wine, now.

 

[melanie]

Thank you, I've read that great piece of information 2-3 times, but for some reason, everything I've learned seems to evaporate when I start second guessing.

 

[fried green eggs]

I understand. LOL Enjoy your glass of wine!

 

[melanie]

Uggg. Still nothingness. So wait 24 hours, then ever so slightly make an air hole? Is that the general consensus? Poor baby. Hopefully it's just absorbing what it needs to. Hope this is normal.

 

[fried green eggs]

If I have wondered if everything is ok in there - I lightly tap on the egg and see if I can hear the chick. If you hear nothing - candle the egg so, you can see the air sack and where the chick is before you pip the shell. Hopefully by morning you will have new chicks

 

[melanie]

Well. I was up and down all night, and nothing changed. So, at about an hour ago, I zipped around just peeling shell, trying not to get any membrane. It seems to be doing well. I don't think it would have ever gotten out of there. It wasn't dried or gooey. It just seemed to big to to move or zip. (I've learned a lot the past 18 hours. lol) I zipped it based on this method. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_can_you_help_a_chicken_egg_hatch

Now, it's back in the incubator and I'm waiting a bit. There was absolutely no blood. It really looks like it's ready to come out. I worked on with the a heat lamp close by, and had my digital thermo probe right there so I could keep it the right temp while I worked. Also, I kept the membrane moist with eye dropper and qtip.

How long do you think I should wait to further assist? Thanks for all your help.