I helped a chick hatch, but was I just lucky?

[Cheekychook11]

I hatched my first group of chicks a few weeks ago, 2 hatched without difficulty but one had pipped with no progress at all for 12 hours, I know this is usually too early to help, but this egg was moving on its own and peeping a lot, so I helped, and when I saw there were no blood vessels I continued, I basically took the entire shell off for him because he still wasn’t able to get out on his own, but as soon as he could he kicked off the shell and hatched in my hand, no visible yolk or blood, he didn’t seem to have any deformities either, he’s doing fine now except one wing is feathering slower than the other, and he’s two weeks old.

another batch of eggs is due to hatch in a week, so my question is, if this scenario repeats itself, did I do the right thing by helping or was I just lucky? Should I wait longer next time? I’ve been told that assisting is tricky but this one was easy, and it was my first time hatching, was I just lucky or skilful somehow?

 

[GodLovesU]

I’d say both.You managed to do it successfully however you are supposed to wait 24 hours and there were no blood vessels.

 

[sourland]

Your timing was right. No bleeding generally indicates that it is okay to help.

 

[Cheekychook11]

Thanks, would you suggest I do the same if this happens again with my next hatch? The main reason I did it early this time is because of how active the chick was in the egg, should I remove only the pipped area of the shell to see if there are blood veins? I could clearly see that they had dried in that egg, and then continue if I don’t see any? Or just wait longer?

 

[Cheekychook11]

This is him, or her, I’m thinking he because his comb is big for 2 weeks

 

[Susan Skylark]

Every case is different, there’s no hard and fast rule, some will die because you help too early and some because you were too late, birth is difficult and dangerous in all species and death is always a part of life, we can sometimes minimize it but can’t ever banish it completely.

 

[Debbie292d]

This is an excellent article that explains a lot about when, why, and how.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Debbie292d]

Thanks, would you suggest I do the same if this happens again with my next hatch? The main reason I did it early this time is because of how active the chick was in the egg, should I remove only the pipped area of the shell to see if there are blood veins? I could clearly see that they had dried in that egg, and then continue if I don’t see any? Or just wait longer?

Watch for when you see them pip. They can take 24 hours to get out after the first hole is made. Most don't take near this long, but that's my cue. Out of hundreds I've hatched, I've only had to assist a couple that had their air cell on the side. It was a hen thing.

 

[Cheekychook11]

Well these eggs were shipped so maybe the air cell was a bit wonky but it wasn’t too bad I think

It seems like I should wait a while but also trust my gut… we’ll see what happens I guess, I might make a hatch along thread after day 18