How long should I wait before helping

[Prestons07]

I have an egg that I noticed pipped yesterday around 10am, it started to zipper a couple hours after that, but I haven't noticed any more progress. It is now 1pm the next day, how long should I wait before I need to help it? It's still moving and peeping.

 

[Pyxis]

If it started to zip it's ready come out. I'd say go ahead and help. If you see any blood, stop. How far along did it get in zipping?

 

[Prestons07]

Not very far. I'm nervous to help, I helped one last incubation on it hadn't absorbed it yolk yet and it ended up dying.

If it started to zip it's ready come out. I'd say go ahead and help. If you see any blood, stop. How far along did it get in zipping?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have an egg that I noticed pipped yesterday around 10am, it started to zipper a couple hours after that, but I haven't noticed any more progress. It is now 1pm the next day, how long should I wait before I need to help it? It's still moving and peeping.

Is it in a incubator or under a hen??

 

[Pyxis]

Not very far. I'm nervous to help, I helped one last incubation on it hadn't absorbed it yolk yet and it ended up dying.

Hmm, might be best to leave it then. Did it actually start to zip or was it possibly just enlarging the pip? There are things you can do if you help and the yolk isn't fully absorbed. I had it happen once with a duckling that hatched early on its own and it made it with some intervention, but it would be best to avoid that being a problem if possible.

 

[Prestons07]

Is it in a incubator or under a hen??

Incubator

 

[Prestons07]

Hmm, might be best to leave it then. Did it actually start to zip or was it possibly just enlarging the pip?

I just checked on it again and it has mad some progress since I posted this and it looks like it's just enlarging the pip.

 

[Pyxis]

Oh good! Sounds like it will do fine on its own. Keep us updated

 

[PD-Riverman]

Incubator

I would Leave that Incubator Closed throughout the hatch----In my area---opening the incubator causes a Big drop in hatch percentage plus hatching problems for the ones that do hatch. Leaving the incubator closed increased my hatch a lot----In my big cabinet I wait till day 22 to open it---most hatches are right at 100%--some hatches like the last one only 233 hatched out of 236 eggs----not bad. I Never Open for N O T H I N G----not even a chick that looks in trouble---I will not jeopardize the rest to try and save one. Good Luck

 

[Pyxis]

I would Leave that Incubator Closed throughout the hatch----In my area---opening the incubator causes a Big drop in hatch percentage plus hatching problems for the ones that do hatch. Leaving the incubator closed increased my hatch a lot----In my big cabinet I wait till day 22 to open it---most hatches are right at 100%--some hatches like the last one only 233 hatched out of 236 eggs----not bad. I Never Open for N  O  T  H  I  N  G----not even a chick that looks in trouble---I will not jeopardize the rest to try and save one. Good Luck

And I open mine constantly - funny how many different ways there are to do things If I'm worried about a humidity drop I just add a wet sponge while I'm in there. I've never had the experience of opening the incubator causing my eggs to die. Could be just a different area thing.