I need reassurance...

[hotmessJess]

... that waiting it out is what I need to do!

My first egg pipped the shell on the WRONG side last night at 10pm. It started out as a tiny V. At 2am, it was a small star, and at 9am it was this:

So, I'm seeing a little progress, but it's slow and I need you all to just reaffirm what I already know: the right thing is to WAIT IT OUT!

There's been a little rocking, so I know we still have a chick, and today is day 21 so we're right on schedule. But this my first time not letting broodies do the job and I'm a wreck that my first babe decided to go through the backdoor! Ahhh!

 

[sourland]

I would let the broody complete the job. Every time you move the hen to check on the eggs, you are messing with the temperature and humidity. There is a reason most hens do not leave the nest the last couple days of incubation.

 

[hotmessJess]

Oh, these are in an incubator! What I meant was I don't have a broody and am incubating. I'd much prefer to have it the other way. When the hen does the job, I don't give the clutch a second thought until I see chicks! I trust they know what they're doing better than I!

These are in lock down; the picture is through the base! But it's so hard to stay hands off being so unsure.

 

[HenHoneyGirl]

I would wait it out. I've heard of many wrong end pippers doing just fine, you can if you want to make sure everything is okay, open the hole a little bit, just to make sure the chick has enough air. Be very careful though, you don't want to hurt the chick. Good luck!!

 

[FarmerMac]

This year I had four eggs pip at the wrong end. I had to help three of them so they could hatch. I missed one BC the pip was under the egg so it did not see it on time so it did not make it out. Here is a picture of one of them, as you can see the air sac, it is at the other end.

 

[hotmessJess]

Thank you! I feel like I need luck!

I WOULD open her up a bit, but I know myself too well. One chip will become twelve and I'll disrupt the whole process! I suffer from a need of instant gratification with these things and I'm already so impressed that managed 21 days! Lol

I've read a million "what to dos" for malpositioned chicks since that fist V last night, so I'm hoping she springs before that 24 hour mark or I'll feel compelled to tinker! Sigh.

 

[hotmessJess]

So at what point should I intervene? Because I'm so anxious, I can't rightly pick a point! What did you do, Mac?

 

[hotmessJess]

Okay, okay, I broke my own rule and opened the incubator for a better look (it's plenty humid in my house, 58%, so I figured that wasn't an issue). I can see a little beak!

Feeling a little better now.

 

[hotmessJess]

So after watching her sit like this for several hours, I decided to help.

I opened her up and made sure all the blood vessels had receded and decided to perform a egg cesarean. She was in there all sorts of awkward and her feet were tucked up and against the air sac. So that's why she was going nowhere.

She's very vocal and alert! I feel so relieved!