help re: pip over 30 hours ago

[chicanxtdoor]

I am at day 21 and I have and little one (barred rock) that pipped early, but it is confusing me. It now has a nickel-sized hole for over 30 hours without moving any further into zip. The chick was chirping at pip like a normal happy hatcher, but has been quiet since yesterday. I assumed it was just resting, but for over 30 hours?! It appears to be content just hanging out in there. It is alive and opens and closes its beak when I moisten the membrane (I sterilized a knitting needle, attached a q-tip on the end, and use warm water through the hole where you add water to wet the membrane if it turns brownish). My humidity has been at 70 for the hatch and the temp is around 99.8, I open my bater 3 times total during incubation and have an auto turner. I noticed gook near the beak/pip in the egg, but it appears to be waste (knowing it could be something scarier, but I don't think so). I have never had a chick go this long and I'm not sure what to do. I have read how to help chicks, but I have never had to. This is the first time I have considered it. I would like to know what the signs of distress are and how long is too long? I would rather help and give the best chance (knowing it may not survive as a chick) then do nothing and have it die in the shell because it couldn't turn. I hope I covered all my basic information, hope I posted this in the right place and thanks for any advice!

 

[chicanxtdoor]

I just wanted to share a picture of how this "pip" looks. I'm sorry about the quality, the plastic sides of the incubator along with the humidity make the clarity difficult.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I am at day 21 and I have and little one (barred rock) that pipped early, but it is confusing me. It now has a nickel-sized hole for over 30 hours without moving any further into zip. The chick was chirping at pip like a normal happy hatcher, but has been quiet since yesterday. I assumed it was just resting, but for over 30 hours?! It appears to be content just hanging out in there. It is alive and opens and closes its beak when I moisten the membrane (I sterilized a knitting needle, attached a q-tip on the end, and use warm water through the hole where you add water to wet the membrane if it turns brownish). My humidity has been at 70 for the hatch and the temp is around 99.8, I open my bater 3 times total during incubation and have an auto turner. I noticed gook near the beak/pip in the egg, but it appears to be waste (knowing it could be something scarier, but I don't think so). I have never had a chick go this long and I'm not sure what to do. I have read how to help chicks, but I have never had to. This is the first time I have considered it. I would like to know what the signs of distress are and how long is too long? I would rather help and give the best chance (knowing it may not survive as a chick) then do nothing and have it die in the shell because it couldn't turn. I hope I covered all my basic information, hope I posted this in the right place and thanks for any advice!

I just wanted to share a picture of how this "pip" looks. I'm sorry about the quality, the plastic sides of the incubator along with the humidity make the clarity difficult.

I'm sorry no one has jumped in to help you earlier. Where are you with this chick? Has it hatched yet?

 

[chicanxtdoor]

It hasn't hatched; so sad. It is still alive, but not lively. I assisted it last night by unzipping it very slightly (at almost 50 hours) and it has not moved from it's egg shape. It's not making any noise and only moves it's head. I'm afraid I might have to cull it at this point if it doesn't move on. I've never had an issue with my chicks, but this is the first time I've had shipped eggs too. I don't know what the best thing for the chick is at this point and it's looking like I can't save it, but it's certainly a tough chick! I was hoping someone had some advice to help my conscience or the chick.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

It hasn't hatched; so sad. It is still alive, but not lively. I assisted it last night by unzipping it very slightly (at almost 50 hours) and it has not moved from it's egg shape. It's not making any noise and only moves it's head. I'm afraid I might have to cull it at this point if it doesn't move on. I've never had an issue with my chicks, but this is the first time I've had shipped eggs too. I don't know what the best thing for the chick is at this point and it's looking like I can't save it, but it's certainly a tough chick! I was hoping someone had some advice to help my conscience or the chick.

Many people would say cull and then there's those of us who would keep trying. Ultimately it comes down to what you think is best. I can only say what I would do and that is a full assist and offer electrolyte enhanced water. Sounds like the chances are against him, but I couldn't give up until I tried. Good luck with him.

 

[chicanxtdoor]

Thank you! I'm with you; after full consideration, I ended up doing a full assist a few hours ago. He finally gave me a few fighting cheeps and moved its wings a lot once he was out. Its feet are curled...I've already gone this far so I gave him some electrolyte water and put it back in the bator to get supplies for sandals. I don't know that much about sandals if anyone can help with specifics of the best way to make them or where good information might be, I'd be grateful. I'm also not sure what position is best to leave him in for recovery. I saw a post where someone had their chick placed over a Tampax box, but I can't locate it. I think that may help with the feet?

 

[beaucock]

Hello we had our first batch of incubated eggs total newbs our first to pip was in there fo 30 hrs all the others hatched. We waited then decided to help very gently (zipped for her) she was def the smallest n least lively no foot problems. She is now fairly large n normal a little odd personality but that's cool lol. I think it's a matter of reasonable common sense to help or not. I ve never read so many conflicting ideas about anything before (chicken hatching in general). Best of luck I hope it works out for you it can be very sad (for me) it seems part science part love lol

 

[WalnutHill]

Thank you! I'm with you; after full consideration, I ended up doing a full assist a few hours ago. He finally gave me a few fighting cheeps and moved its wings a lot once he was out. Its feet are curled...I've already gone this far so I gave him some electrolyte water and put it back in the bator to get supplies for sandals. I don't know that much about sandals if anyone can help with specifics of the best way to make them or where good information might be, I'd be grateful. I'm also not sure what position is best to leave him in for recovery. I saw a post where someone had their chick placed over a Tampax box, but I can't locate it. I think that may help with the feet?

It's not uncommon for the toes to be curled right after hatching and for a couple of hours but if they don't straighten out in a few hours you will want to make tape sandals. Just use surgical tape or blue painters mask to make a sandwich for the toes, or tape the toes to a cutout that spans the chick's toes (like a flip flop).

 

[chicanxtdoor]

Ha- I root for the oddballs! It's sad and kinda exhausting trying to make sure I do everything I can to give my little oddball a chance. I had not posted before because of all of the passionate, differing opinions; I can always find detailed information on others' posts, but I was desperate since I have never heard of a chick surviving 50 hours after pip! I'm glad I did because I feel so much better. I'm crossing my fingers and toes right along with the chick.

 

[beaucock]

Not a prob thanks fer da props lol. My posts started the same way. We ended up savin a Canada goose (henry) a girl she came swimming on the river w us today w many strange looks. We feed her but she's free to go whiich she did a couple o days back. There's pics onvmy post. I will post a pic of Diablo (the girl that we helped) we call her didi lmao