HELP PLEASE! Through shell but not membrane

[MabelTheMuscovy]

My first chick to pip has done so through the shell but has not pipped through the membrane. It has been like this for a few hours now. I can still see the chick moving inside and trying to break more shell but it just hasn't burst the membrane yet
What do I do? I don't want to help it just yet incase I cause other eggs in the incubator to be shrink wrapped when I lift the lid. Panicking !!!!

 

[biophiliac]

My first chick to pip has done so through the shell but has not pipped through the membrane. It has been like this for a few hours now. I can still see the chick moving inside and trying to break more shell but it just hasn't burst the membrane yet
What do I do? I don't want to help it just yet incase I cause other eggs in the incubator to be shrink wrapped when I lift the lid. Panicking !!!!

If the shell is pipped then the membrane must be pierced, you just cannot see it. Have patience.

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

Really! I thought along the same lines but it just doesn't look like it... I guess you are right tho! Thank you, I just needed some reassurance lol.
I can hear one of them cheeping every now and then

 

[Pyxis]

Sometimes they do manage to break the shell without also breaking the membrane, but that's fine, they can still breathe that way.

If it's really worrying you, go ahead and open the incubator and put in a safety hole as detailed in this article. You won't shrinkwrap the other chicks Just make sure the humidity gets back up after you open the incubator.

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

As long as it can breathe! He is still chirping away so I'm not too worried... he's been chirping for several hours now so I can't say he seems to be running out of air.
Thanks, I will wait a few more hours and see how he goes then I might make a safety hole

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

I apologise for being a bit paranoid but... he is still trying really hard and hasn't made much progress. I can see him pushing the membrane and moving inside it but he just isn't getting anywhere despite his efforts.
I really don't want to help unless absolutely necessary incase I burst a blood vessel or something.
I guess he still has air tho or he wouldn't be chirping.. how long does the air sac keep them going? If its only a few hours then he must have punctured the membrane somewhere because he has been like this since 10am this morning and its now nearly 7.15pm

 

[Pyxis]

If you put a safety hole in the air cell, you won't hit any veins, because there aren't any in that area Wouldn't hurt to do one if you think he's struggling.

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

And you are sure the other one which is pipping won't dry out with the rush of air going in? Everyone says never to lift the lid at this point
Do you think it will ever get through the membrane... and what might have caused this?
Thanks for all your help

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, I'm sure. I constantly open the incubator during hatch, all the time. As long as the humidity goes back up quickly afterwards, no harm is done.

He might have a malposition going on like feet over head or something, that's a possibility. Or maybe he just didn't get good leverage for his pip. It's possible he would be able to zip okay and break the membrane at that point.

 

[3riverschick]

Go Pyxis!!
Great counsel!!!