Helping chicks

[Newfarmer36]

I was searching the internet on how to incubate eggs. I went to YouTube and found a few videos of people helping chicks hatch. I even found 1 of someone picking the entire egg shell off. As I was looking through the comments, people were saying that in no way, shape or form are you supposed to do that. Others said it was fine. What's y'alls opinion? Thanks!

 

[Welshies]

You are not supposed to help a chick get out of its shell, it can hurt it. It needs to absorb that yolk.
However.
If it passes the 24 hour mark and hasn't hatched completely, it may be necessary to help it.
@Blooie, thoughts?

 

[Newfarmer36]

You are not supposed to help a chick get out of its shell, it can hurt it. It needs to absorb that yolk.
However.
If it passes the 24 hour mark and hasn't hatched completely, it may be necessary to help it.
@Blooie, thoughts?

Oh Ok!

 

[Blooie]

In most cases, no, a chick shouldn't need help. It can take a long time between first internal pip and final hatch, and some folks confuse impatience with truly needing to intervene. There are those times when you just have to take the risk, though. If a chick may well die without help, for instance a seriously stuck chick or a malpositioned chick, then it becomes a case of doing what has to be done in an effort to save it.

I'm no expert on hatching. I"ve done it a few times and yes, I had to assist one chick who survived and went on to become our special Silkie roo, Smudge. But aside from the very basics, I would never attempt to walk anyone through doing it. For real help - help from people who know when to help, how to help, and when not to, the best place on the entire forum is @AmyLynn2374 thread. I'll post a link for you. It's a big thread, and there are real experts there who understand the fine line between "hands off" and "sometimes ya just gotta try". You have the option to scroll through it or just pop into the end and ask your questions there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hands-on-hatching-and-help.1081034/#post-16530136

 

[Newfarmer36]

In most cases, no, a chick shouldn't need help. It can take a long time between first internal pip and final hatch, and some folks confuse impatience with truly needing to intervene. There are those times when you just have to take the risk, though. If a chick may well die without help, for instance a seriously stuck chick or a malpositioned chick, then it becomes a case of doing what has to be done in an effort to save it.

I'm no expert on hatching. I"ve done it a few times and yes, I had to assist one chick who survived and went on to become our special Silkie roo, Smudge. But aside from the very basics, I would never attempt to walk anyone through doing it. For real help - help from people who know when to help, how to help, and when not to, the best place on the entire forum is @AmyLynn2374 thread. I'll post a link for you. It's a big thread, and there are real experts there who understand the fine line between "hands off" and "sometimes ya just gotta try". You have the option to scroll through it or just pop into the end and ask your questions there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hands-on-hatching-and-help.1081034/#post-16530136

Thank you!!

 

[Blooie]

You are very welcome! And Welcome to BYC!

 

[aart]

It's a judgement call.
Hard decision to make without experience.....and even then.

 

[WVduckchick]

It's a judgement call.
Hard decision to make without experience.....and even then.

x2! Experience makes a huge difference.

I'm in the "hands-on" camp most of the time. There is a fine line of "when". I've hatched many that wouldn't have lived without assistance. I've also assisted a few that should not have been helped (deformities, etc). I believe the majority of the hands-off position is more of a position of letting mother nature decide. But while an incubator tries to mimic mother nature, it's still not as good at the job of hatching. If my incubator wasn't perfect, then I feel its my duty to do what I can.

 

[Mimiruu]

I agree with the above poster. I have had many that I thought I had to hatch, but it turns out they did not live afterwards because of deformities such as a brain exposed. I do help when it gets too far of the egg sitting with no movement... so far it was not best.

 

[Newfarmer36]

I agree with the above poster. I have had many that I thought I had to hatch, but it turns out they did not live afterwards because of deformities such as a brain exposed. I do help when it gets too far of the egg sitting with no movement... so far it was not best.

Yeah. I think I'm just gonna leave it to the mother.