I hear chicks chirping in the incubator but no cracks!

[Kerryssweetchickens]

Do I need to help the chicks out of the shell

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Hatching goes through 3 phases. First is internal pip, where they poke a hole into the air cell and learn to breathe air. They can chirp once they do that. With no cracks I expect that is where you are.

Second is external pip. They poke a hole in the shell that you can see. They start breathing external air during this phase.

Third is zip. They peck a crack all around the egg so they can push the shell apart and come out.

Some chicks do a lot between internal pip and external pip. These chicks often zip pretty quickly after external pip. Some chicks don't but do a lot between external pip and zip. These can be very frustrating as it can seem to take forever.

It can take 24 hours between some phases, some can be over in just a few hours. It takes time to absorb the yolk, dry up blood vessels in the membrane surrounding them, and do other stuff. But they need to do all that before they can safely hatch.

This may sound cruel but go get some fruit and chop it up. Put it on a bowl of vanilla ice cream and eat that as you chill and keep your hands off of the incubator. You may be in for a long night.

 

[TwoCrows]

Great advice from @Ridgerunner above! I love when chicks peep in the egg. I talk and sing to them, they can hear you!!

They don't need any help at this point, let them do their thing, they should be hatching in the next day or 2!

 

[Kerryssweetchickens]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Hatching goes through 3 phases. First is internal pip, where they poke a hole into the air cell and learn to breathe air. They can chirp once they do that. With no cracks I expect that is where you are.

Second is external pip. They poke a hole in the shell that you can see. They start breathing external air during this phase.

Third is zip. They peck a crack all around the egg so they can push the shell apart and come out.

Some chicks do a lot between internal pip and external pip. These chicks often zip pretty quickly after external pip. Some chicks don't but do a lot between external pip and zip. These can be very frustrating as it can seem to take forever.

It can take 24 hours between some phases, some can be over in just a few hours. It takes time to absorb the yolk, dry up blood vessels in the membrane surrounding them, and do other stuff. But they need to do all that before they can safely hatch.

This may sound cruel but go get some fruit and chop it up. Put it on a bowl of vanilla ice cream and eat that as you chill and keep your hands off of the incubator. You may be in for a long night.

Thank you!! I love this! And, YES! I do need to chill and will take that advice and add hot fudge! I feel more calm!