Is This a Pip?

[maxride14]

If it were pipped normally, I would say no, but in this case, I would. Be prepared for it to have problems, though. I might not make it even with help.

It's up to you. If he hatches out on his own he will likely be a strong healthy chick. If you help him out the chances of him not thriving increase greatly. Probably half the chicks I help hatch out don't thrive and end up getting culled within a day or two. The other half do fine.

Considering the relatively low humidity during lockdown, he's the only chick that has pipped, the fact that he pipped at the wrong end, and since it's been over 24 hours since he pipped, I would open the top of the shell up and see if he's shrink wrapped.....

I have a feeling he is and that's just what I would do but I'm definitely not an expert, especially with the Gambel's. I would cut, tear, crack, whatever the shell in a circle almost all the way around and pop it open and fold it back. I guess you could just cut the top completely off too.

If he has not zipped by in the morning I would definitely help him out.

I would say no because I am a firm believer in if they can't hatch themselves then they aren't meant to be but....
I know how hard it is to not do something.


Have you candled this one yet?

If he has a chance to make it, I want to help him out. I just don't know if I'll be too early. Should I candle him first? What should I look for?
I've got tweezers and the blunt end of a wooden skewer.. I've been looking things up and watching videos on what to do. If I do this tonight, my plan is to widen the pip and try to start the zipping process. If I see any blood I'm going to stop. I saw someone say they wrapped the egg (not the pip part) in a moist towel in between assisting, should I do that too? Since it's been over 24 hrs since I noticed the pip, I don't know if waiting till tomorrow is too long or doing it tonight is too soon.

 

[Kiki]

If he has a chance to make it, I want to help him out. I just don't know if I'll be too early. Should I candle him first? What should I look for?
I've got tweezers and the blunt end of a wooden skewer.. I've been looking things up and watching videos on what to do. If I do this tonight, my plan is to widen the pip and try to start the zipping process. If I see any blood I'm going to stop. I saw someone say they wrapped the egg (not the pip part) in a moist towel in between assisting, should I do that too? Since it's been over 24 hrs since I noticed the pip, I don't know if waiting till tomorrow is too long or doing it tonight is too soon.

I would wait.

 

[maxride14]

I would wait.

Ok. I'll update in the morning.

 

[Myahopie]

Yes it is! That's exciting. Quail are so much fun to hatch out and are tiny fluff balls after they dry out.

 

[maxride14]

@Kiki @mdees88 I checked a few eggs and one was developed. There was an air sac and the rest was dark. I wasn't 100% sure I saw movement near the air sack, but a dark spot seemed to move once. Maybe the head?

Also I hear the baby cheeping. That's good, right? I don't know whether that means I should wait or not.

 

[mdees88]

Dark with an airsac is good and cheeping is good.

 

[yolkoroo]

@maxride14 We had a hatchling this morning when we woke up. We were hatching Coutournix and they did make a late arrival...well, we have two now of 14 eggs none of which did I candle. Here is a video and a pic of the first two...it was a long wait to day 19 and we thought we would at least see something by day 17 or so...instead Day 19/20. I know your breed takes longer, so hoping they are coming out soon.
Video Rooting for your little ones!!!

 

[maxride14]

Thanks, just checked and he's in the same spot so I'm going to go and help him a little bit. I'll keep you all updated.

 

[maxride14]

I'm slowly cracking the egg around the baby but keeping the membrane intact so hopefully he can break out on its own. I got around 35% of the egg and just put him back for another ten minutes. If he's not out, I'll keep going. The membrane was dry but still white. He started cheeping when I was finishing up so I went back to the incubator.

 

[maxride14]

Okay he's out. I ended up having to help pull the membrane off. I think @mdees88 was right, he seemed shrinkwrapped. There was one little blood vessel but it didn't cause any blood so I think that's okay. The last bit of membrane was stuck to his butt so I had to carefully pull it off. I stuck him back in the incubator, so he'll be in there until he's dry. I hope he makes it. He's doing what I've seen other newborn quails do on youtube: he'll squirm his legs and move around and then rest a little. I don't have any way to know whether he will make it or not, but he seems intact and hopefully isn't too weak. I think waiting till this morning was good because he was no longer attached to the all of the vessels, so that was helpful.
Wow, that was stressful. I really hope he makes it!