Help! should I assist my chick with pipping?

[Burbs03]

My chick made a few cracks in its egg but didn't break through with its beak. should I make a safety hole? if not now when? I want as many chicks to survive as possible. What should I do?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

My chick made a few cracks in its egg but didn't break through with its beak. should I make a safety hole? if not now when? I want as many chicks to survive as possible. What should I do?

I'm a proponent of assisted hatching when appropriate, but it's important to try to let the chick hatch on its own timeline (within reason). Here's a great resource for determining when to intervene: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.

Good luck!

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

How long ago did the chick pip? You won't always see a hole. Sometimes it's just the tiniest crack. Later the chick will make the pip bigger, and eventually will start zipping, and you'll see cracks starting to stretch around the egg. this can take many, many hours. Try to sit on your hands and be patient. If you interfere too early, the chick won't be ready to hatch. It may not have finished absorbing the yolk. I know it's hard, but I always give it 24 hours or more before interfering, and even then, I don't always interfere.

 

[Burbs03]

Ok thanks! there was a few cracks, now there is a bigger hole, it is moving back and forth a lot and I can see its little beak moving

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Sounds like it's moving right along!