HELP! When to intervene.

[Shalah]

Please checks my thread on my first hatch. Do you think the pip has occurred on the edge of the air sack or has the chick pipped in the other area of the shell? Im just new as well with only one hatching so far. If you can see the chick is breathing through the beak but not pipping, at a minimum I would be assisting by placing drops of warm water down between the egg shell and the membrane to moisten it. The "tan" colour happened on mine as well and that's what was happening and the chick just couldn't move. Keep the water away from the nostrils.

Good luck.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi I think I would be assisting now after 34 + hours. Please make sure you have read everything that you can. Be confident but careful. Good luck

 

[AmericanMom]

I just assisted my last chick to hatch, It had piped at least 30 hours ago but had made zero progress, It was the last egg in the incubator and was a smaller egg to boot.. I gently expanded its pip hole until I could see it, sure enough it was larger than normal and couldn't maneuver further to start zipping, there was zero blood so I knew it was ready.... Be prepared tho, sometimes if they cannot get out there is a reason, I cannot tell for sure and wont make a judgment call for 12+ hours but it looks like this little one has some leg and foot issues, but for now, its out and resting in the incubator .

 

[Outpost JWB]

I have assisted on a few hatches. Last resort. Some lived, some did not. 34hrs is a long time. My most successful assist, the chick had pipped and not started the zip line. I went to work, came home still nothing, but he was chirping. The next morning, about 30hrs later, still nothing, but it appeared to be blocking his airway. I peeled the egg back and there was blood. I almost cried! Thought for sure I killed the chick. I laid him on a wet paper towel in the incubator & had to go to work. When I got home, he was up & fine. Just a bloody paper towel in the corner & chicks everywhere in incubator. Now he is a beautiful olive egger cockrell. Good luck. It's a hard call either way.