Is this little guy stuck? To help or not?

[Gilbird]

I apologize for yet another ‘should I assist’ post..I realize that it is best to leave the chick to hatch on it’s own, but the mama in me wants to help and I can’t decide if I should.

This is day 20. The egg is from an Easter Egger and it pipped around 8:00pm last night, but did so at the bottom of the shell, away from the air cell. The pip was large though and I could see the beak. It started zipping around 3:00am. By 7:00am it was zipped all the way around. It has remained the same since that time, so almost 5 hours. It pushes but it seems that the membrane is stopping any progress; all of the shell that I can view is broken. The membrane is bright white and pulling away from the shell, if that makes sense.

Humidity was steady at 40-45% throughout the first 18 days and has been around 70-75% during hatch, though it did reach 82% when the other chicks started hatching. In the time since this egg finished zipping, five other chicks have zipped and hatched. I’m just worried that this one is stuck.

Should I wait or assist? If I do the latter, should I just apply coconut oil or try to help with the membrane? Here is a picture of what I’m seeing.

Thank you!!

 

[CiscoChickens]

Well, the important thing is that he has air. That is good. I can see how you want to help—he's so close! However, I'm not that experienced in assisted hatching/when to do it. There's a reason everyone says to leave them alone, but I don't see the harm in helping this guy. He's obviously pushed on the egg and ready to come out. What does everyone else think?

 

[Jetblack2004]

I think you should leave him be for a bit longer. Your humidity is perfect, and he could well just be taking a rest.

This article will help you: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

 

[TheJadeChicken]

Give him time. I had an egg take a day and a half before hatching fully.

 

[Gilbird]

Thank you for the advice—I did decide to sit on my hands and wait; I really don’t want to mess up the hatch.

He’s still in the egg, but has managed to break through the membrane that I can see. There is some membrane that is stuck/dry to his feathers, but I will deal with that later if I have to. He’s just taking REALLY long naps between pushes.

 

[Gilbird]

I just wanted to update—he made it out on his own at about 4:00 this afternoon. Poor thing has an eggshell helmet that is stuck to his head, but we will deal with that soon. He’s up and moving and fluffing out.

 

[CiscoChickens]

Glad everything worked out!

 

[aart]

Might want to quickly pull that shell off him before it sticks any tighter.

 

[Gilbird]

Might want to quickly pull that shell off him before it sticks any tighter.

He actually ended up getting it off himself. I was waiting for another egg to finish zipping, since it was nearly there, and by the time it was finished the shell helmet was off. He is a tiny little thing, about 2/3 the size of his sibling, but has proven himself to at least be persistent.

 

[Hyroler]

Good job waiting.90% of chicks that survive assisted hatching would of hatched successfully by themselves if they were given the chance.That's why they say once you start lockdown period of incubation don't interrupt until incubation period is complete.