I hate to start but

[rancher hicks]

Has anyone had sucess in interfering with a hatch. I've got chicks starting to hatch but the first has been at it all night. Not a good sign? I had a thermometer problem but kept things going as it was just a few days to hatch. They've started to hatch but the first has been at it all night. While it's alive and has an air hole I would have expected it to be out after 10 hrs, right? This is my second hatching and I don't recall the others taking so long to come out. Is there a set rule as to the time from first crack to complete hatch? Or a gauge of time?

 

[FortWorthChicks]

Everything I have read says hands off. If you open the incubator the air will get dry and the chicks that have not started won;t be able to get out. I have also read it can take a while. I place hands under rear and then sit on em.

 

[ChickBond 007]

Quote:
There are varying thoughts on this, some feel strongly, however, my experience has been: If the chick struggles longer than 8 hours, help it. I have lots of live chickens who were "helped". I have also had several dead, in-shell, hatchlings that I chose not to help. If only the strong survive, that may be; but a broody hen would peck at the hatching, so I figure I can too.

 

[farrier!]

I agree with ChickBond 007 but I go even longer, 24 hours before helping and then as little as possible.

 

[Keri78]

A black copper maran breeder that I talked to said that she "has" to assist every egg she hatches or they will die! She told me that the purer the bloodlines the more difficult they are to hatch and even when adjusting the humidity levels she still is having to help. She knew just how much to help and how to do it just right. She also said that if by chance one of her hens lays eggs in the barn and she doesn't get them in the bator she has found half hatched dead chicks by morning b/c they just can't seem to get out of those beautiful chocolate shells! PLEEEEASE don't shoot the messenger!!! I don't claim to have ANY experience yet with hatching but this is what I was told by this breeder and she recommended me to just buy chicks and she does sell her eggs for ALLLLOT of money!!!! But I was feeling a little out of my league after talking to her! I have read somewhere that after so many hours of struggling it is ok to assist them(but it must be done carefully). Blessings,Keri

 

[Mahonri]

Let them go at least 18 - 24 hours before helping, or you'll ruin it for the others.

 

[marlin]

I had one to pip yester day at about 10 am and did make it out til this morning about 1 am. Thats about 14 hrs or so hes doing great I would just sit on those hands

 

[Barred Rocker]

I've assisted a few but I don't recommend it. I know a couple died because of my impatience. Give them 24 hours, sometimes they just pip too early and they're not ready yet. I know it's heartbreaking if one dies in the shell and you wonder if you could have saved it but it's worse if you intervene and it dies because you did.

 

[IggiMom]

There is a sticky on how to help them and when to help, but I do not know where it is. Does anyone else know? It is very informative. I used it last year when I had some stuck turkey babies.

Those little turkeys are out in the yard now. And they are big, too.

Darn, I have NO LUCK finding stuff on this forum. The search engine does not work for me, it just brings up a bunch of unrelated stuff.

Catherine

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Link to a Stickey with links on Hatching & incubating, Raising, helping etc....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48726