HELP please from first time coturnix quail hatcher

[MazzyK]

Hi everyone,
if anyone has time to help me I'd be so so grateful.
I have some quail hatching and have observed a couple externally pip but then appear unable to zip out, or have begun zipping but then given up. A couple I think have died in their shells but another is definitely still alive and trying. Its made a big long whole as if it's trying to zip but it's little beak keeps coming out at the same place and it's been this way for nearly 24 hours. The humidity counter is saying that the humidity is still around 77 now, but I'll confess I was an idiot and did open the bator to rescue little hatchlings which I regret doing now.
My question is - should I go in there and try and assist the little one who appears to be struggling to complete zipping? I feel like its just losing strength now and if I do nothing it will very likely die in its shell

Thanks for any help you can give,
Maz

 

[Ebony Rose]

Do I understand that it's pretty near made a full cut (zip) but is now having trouble pushing out? If so, pop the top off (that it cut) then place the egg back into the incubator and allow it to push out of its shell. The exercise of allowing the chick to finish the job is good for their health. I have had much better success with chicks living after hatch if I assist only as much as is absolutely needed and allowing the chicks to finish the job they started. It seems cruel to make them work for it, but it is nature's way, and as said, I find that those that are overly assisted don't live long after hatch.

 

[MazzyK]

Do I understand that it's pretty near made a full cut (zip) but is now having trouble pushing out? If so, pop the top off (that it cut) then place the egg back into the incubator and allow it to push out of its shell. The exercise of allowing the chick to finish the job is good for their health. I have had much better success with chicks living after hatch if I assist only as much as is absolutely needed and allowing the chicks to finish the job they started. It seems cruel to make them work for it, but it is nature's way, and as said, I find that those that are overly assisted don't live long after hatch.

Thanks for getting back to me! No, sadly it hasn't got all the way round. It's only got about one third of the way... :s

 

[Ebony Rose]

Listen to it then, if it starts sounding weaker, step in and help it by breaking the 'top' off, using the chicks own efforts as a guide. Keep in mind the balance of things; if doing nothing would result in the chick dying, then by all means step in since even a bad outcome offered more hope than doing nothing.

 

[MazzyK]

Listen to it then, if it starts sounding weaker, step in and help it by breaking the 'top' off, using the chicks own efforts as a guide. Keep in mind the balance of things; if doing nothing would result in the chick dying, then by all means step in since even a bad outcome offered more hope than doing nothing.

Thank you for this. This is very wise and helpful.

 

[RoosterML]

Your humidity seems really high.
Also keep in mind that it is possible that if it’s not doing it on its own there may very well be an underlying issue.
Side note: opening the incubator is ok just try to do it when you don’t have any with large external pips.