I am so discouraged... chicks pipping upside down.

[astylishgirl]

I am feeling so discouraged. I found 5 eggs that had pipped upside down... 2 days early. I can't tell if they are alive or anything. I know we are supposed to let nature take its course and not help them. Why are they pipping early and upside down??

I helped one a little because his yolk all ran out. I just pulled a bit of shell off and I could tell the veins had not shrunk. He is happy in his shell and not even trying to get out.

 

[Mahonri]

DON'T OPEN THE BATOR... you'll loose humidity and it won't be able to get out.

Good luck

 

[pete1]

praying there ok

why there upside dowm but im with Mahonri keep the bator closed and just let life be

 

[astylishgirl]

This is my first hatch and its just awful! I don't know what is supposed to happen really and they just seem so vulnerable. And I know that ANYTHING I do, hurts them... not helps them. Next time I will do better I hope.

 

[Dirt Road]

As the chick develops in the egg, it lies "across" the egg. At the point when it becomes too big to fit that way it will turn with it's head toward the highest point, ordinarily the large/air cell end. For a short time after that it can turn end for end, but quickly becomes too big to make the switch and is then committed. Poorly shaped eggs and overcrowded eggs being hand turned on their sides are generally the cause, but nothing works perfectly every time. With several being upside down there must be a common cause. Just something to watch for with your next batch. Upside down chicks usually take longer to "zip" after pipping than those which pip correctly, but with chickens, the majority of them manage to get out on their own.

Jim

 

[astylishgirl]

If I have already opened the bator am I totally screwed??? Do I need to put a sponge in there to help with the humidity?

 

[Katy]

It's hard to leave them alone, but you need to leave the lid on and give them time. It can take 24+ hours from the time they pip until they start to zip. If the veins still had blood in them I seriously doubt that he had "run out of yolk". They continue to absorb it as they pip and then zip. By opening the lid you let the humidity escape that the eggs need to hatch. What does your humidity read? If it's anywhere above 60 I'd leave the lid on and hope for the best.