Issue while unzipping

[Strix-Aliana]

It’s day 24 and one has already died while unzipping and another is having trouble. I haven’t noticed any further progress in hours and it looks as if the chick itself is upside down (butt to the air, beak unzipping upside down as well). I’m not sure what to do if anything.

I have 5 other eggs in the incubator that have no breakage at all on the egg, wondering what I can do at this point? I don’t want to open the incubator and risk doing harm to the chick that’s trying to unzip.

 

[Strix-Aliana]

Please let us know how it goes.

The reason I didn’t bring it to the brooder earlier was because I was afraid it’s siblings would peck it to death… as I have heard that chickens can be carnivorous esp if there is a weaker one amongst them. I put it in the brooder after all and I left for a minute to use the bathroom and when I came back it was dead. Not sure what happened.

 

[Strix-Aliana]

Humidity maybe too low. Two days to hatch is too long. I'd assist.

Trust me, it won't hurt to open while chicks are hatching. I've been hatching for 3yrs.

How can you tell? I’ve been adding water constantly. Says 70% but unfortunately I don’t have a second hygrometer to verify.

I’m afraid to assist because I don’t know how and I know you can do more harm than good by assisting sometimes. What do you recommend

 

[MysteryChicken]

How can you tell? I’ve been adding water constantly. Says 70% but unfortunately I don’t have a second hygrometer to verify.

I’m afraid to assist because I don’t know how and I know you can do more harm than good by assisting sometimes. What do you recommend

Never trust the built in Hygrometers, & thermometers. Always use back ups.

The chick is already, ready to hatch. So you can't harm it. If the chick is sticky, use alittle water, or coconut oil to soften the membrane, & gently pull the shell, & membranes off the chick.

 

[Diveks]

Never trust the built in Hygrometers, & thermometers. Always use back ups.

The chick is already, ready to hatch. So you can't harm it. If the chick is sticky, use alittle water, or coconut oil to soften the membrane, & gently pull the shell, & membranes off the chick.

i agree, i even had a built in thermometer 5 degree off....

if you are still not too confident or scared it will bleed out you can try peeling off the outer shell (a tiny bit) and put something like warm water on the membrane to make it translucent to see the blood vessels. did that with one of my chicks, and found out they were not ready, i put them back in the bator and after they absorbed everything i helped out.

 

[Strix-Aliana]

i agree, it might be tired from such a tiring hatch. Some type of electrolyte might help it perk up enough to start feeding once it is able to take down liquids. heard people use sugar water but i haven't tried it.

I am really hoping she/he pulls through… how do you get past knowing that you’re the reason most of the babies dried up inside their shell because you didn’t add enough water? My hatch before this had a 13/14 success rate and I didn’t do anything differently this time I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness and anger towards myself.

 

[LadyAchee]

Ok. Helped baby out and it seemed to go smoothly but I might have done it too late… breathing seems labored. I don’t know how to post video

It's probably just tired. Did you put it back into the incubator or into a brooder?

I am really hoping she/he pulls through… how do you get past knowing that you’re the reason most of the babies dried up inside their shell because you didn’t add enough water? My hatch before this had a 13/14 success rate and I didn’t do anything differently this time I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness and anger towards myself.

When you hatch chicks there is going to be mistakes. Next time you will be more informed. We have all made mistakes. Only time will help you feel better.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I’m still afraid to open it, for I know people who do have issues when they open it. Chick has been making slow progress over the span of almost 2 days now… pretty much following the same trend as the one who died. I’m just worried.

Humidity maybe too low. Two days to hatch is too long. I'd assist.

Trust me, it won't hurt to open while chicks are hatching. I've been hatching for 3yrs.

 

[Diveks]

I’m still afraid to open it, for I know people who do have issues when they open it. Chick has been making slow progress over the span of almost 2 days now… pretty much following the same trend as the one who died. I’m just worried.

fusually assisting issues happen when its still pipping, so a chick that is stuck that far into progess should be ready. it might be stuck in the membrane and can't turn to unzip more or is in a weird posision.

happened to the hen i have in the pic 6 years ago, she wouldn't be here if i didn't help her out. Assisting becomes an issue when they still have their blood vessels and yolk attached and they bleed out.

 

[LadyAchee]

The chick is ready to hatch. You can do it just be gentle and observant. Here is a great guide.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/