my eggs are 25 days old today and started chirping. please help, this is my first time incubating

[mmjc]

I have just candeld it (I put the mattress up against the window and made a tent with the duvet) and I could see something that could of been a beak and it was moving forwards and backwards but I couldn't hear it pecking the shell. would you still assist or give it a bit more time? sorry I am such a worrier

I agree, I would help. I was in the same situation a week ago with one of mine. It was chirping for almost a full day without a pip and I didn't know if I should help or wait longer. I finally decided to help so I made a small pip in the air cell and removed just a small portion of the shell. The next morning nothing else had happened and the chirping was at a minimum. It was day 22 so I knew it should be fully developed and ready to come out, but for some reason couldn't. I decided to take it out of the incubator and into the bathroom - turned the shower on all the way on hot to keep the humidity up in the room with the door shut and put it on a towel. I started chipping (ever so gently) some of the shell away and it started to push it's way out. Turns out that my humidity in the bator was low (hygrometer was not reading right) and it was starting to shrink wrap in it's shell. It wouldn't have made it if I didn't help. He hatched completely and is almost 2 wks old and doing great! It's extremely scary and nerve wracking - I shook like crazy, but it's worth giving it a chance. Good luck!

 

[GeorgRodway]

Okay so I put one of my chicks back in the bator and hopefully the chirping of it will encourage the others out. This should help right ?

 

[mmjc]

Okay so I put one of my chicks back in the bator and hopefully the chirping of it will encourage the others out. This should help right ?

Yes, that may help. I had one hatch one time and another was chirping in it's shell but wasn't due until the next day, but with the other one in there running around and chirping it encouraged the second one to hatch a little early.

 

[flippyshoes]

well I've made a pip in it, its about the size of my little finger nail. the beak is out and its chirping like mad. ive put it back in the incubator now. the chick seems pretty small and I think it has struggled to reach the shell as it isn't touching the shell now. should its beak be out of the hole?

 

[GeorgRodway]

When candling could you see the beak as this is what I'm thinking about doing !

 

[sumi]

No, it's fine like that. It can get fresh air now, so it's good. Have you looked at the assist hatch article to see what to do next? (If needed)

 

[flippyshoes]

this is it. does it look ok to you?

 

[flippyshoes]

yes I drew on the egg where I thought the beak was. I could see it pecking but couldn't hear it so I don't think it could reach the shell. it was the scariest thing ive done, I was shaking like a leaf!!

yes ive read that article, its fantastic, such a good help.

 

[sumi]

Yes that's fine. The pic's a bit blurry, but it looks like it's still got active blood vessels in it's membrane so it will need to stay like that for a few more hours. Take a wet Q-tip and dampen the exposed membrane now and then to keep it soft.

 

[flippyshoes]

yes it has quite a few blood vessels. ok i will go and damped in now. thank you so much for your help