Help!? or not? Day 23 on hatching egg

[kharmon320]

I had 4 eggs under my broody hen at day 18. 3 hatched out on Day 21, Sunday, 7/29. This one she continued to sit on but eventually left the nest on Monday to take out the others. I also had 6 in the incubator. Most hatched on Monday. I put it in the incubator. The air cell is really misshapen but I see it breathing/moving. The air cell was normal when I candled at day 18. I cannot see an internal pip. Should I help out? It's almost 48 hrs behind the others. I'm really tempted to start helping.

I have one more in there that I still see blood vessels around the air cell, but not much movement. It is also the same schedule, but she kicked it out of the nest last Wednesday and I put it in the incubator.

 

[Rysktal]

This is my first season experiencing hatching chicks via broody and incubation, just for the record.

At this point I think I would help out a bit and just not be too optimistic about the results. The mishaped air cell has me curious and I would want to know what that is all about.

My goal is to not interfere with hatching but ultimately at some point I can't not try to help, this sounds like one of those situations.

Please keep us posted!

 

[kharmon320]

This is my first season experiencing hatching chicks via broody and incubation, just for the record.

At this point I think I would help out a bit and just not be too optimistic about the results. The mishaped air cell has me curious and I would want to know what that is all about.

My goal is to not interfere with hatching but ultimately at some point I can't not try to help, this sounds like one of those situations.

Please keep us posted!

So, I hear knocking when I listen with my stethoscope (just a few minutes ago). I "thought" I heard faint chirping this morning, but haven't really heard it since then.

 

[True Patriot]

Don't help. If anything candling to see progress would be better. There are very few circumstances to help in a hatching. If it's still moving and hasn't absorbed the yolk there's a good chance any "help" you give it will do more harm.

 

[Rysktal]

If you're hearing something I would just leave it then.

Cool you have a stethescope!

 

[True Patriot]

Ok now. I wasn't trying to sound rude. Are these bought eggs or your own? There can be a couple day difference with when the eggs were laid. It may not be on the day you think. Opening early will cause serious problems. Give it at least another 48 hours. And once it pips another 24 before considering any help. Some chicks just take their sweet time.

 

[ronott1]

I would leave it in the incubator.

Is it possible that the egg was added later?

 

[kharmon320]

I certainly did not think you sounded rude, honesty is greatly appreciated.

I do not have a rooster, so I had a friend collect fertile eggs for me. I put all of the eggs under the hen on July 8. Someone local convinced me that it was shrink-wrapped in the shell and wouldn't be able to hatch. She was right. She just guided me through an assist and the entire membrane was white. We opened up a small spot for the beak and it's moist, back in the incubator and breathing well. I know it was a chance, but now I'm glad I tried. I knew as soon as I took the small piece of shell off that the outer membrane was dry and tough. If nothing else it will be a learning experience.

 

[Phage]

Repeated removing the egg from the Bator to candle during the last couple of days can lead to shrink wrapping.
My best hatched are always when I am at work during hatches.

 

[kharmon320]

Thanks, everyone. It did not make it. These two had both been under the hen outside and then moved inside which I think greatly affected the humidity (as it is so humid here). I opened up the other one and it looks like it had been dead a few days. I'll know next time (maybe not) that those extremely misshapen air cells after lockdown are trouble.