Need help—first time hatching eggs

[Apenn11]

First time hatching eggs. 5 have pipped. One has successfully hatched but she’ll stuck to her. I’m more worried about number 2 tho. She has fully unzipped almost but stopped and the membrane started turning dark quickly. The humidity was in the 79-89 range so it should not be too dry should it? Does this look normal ?

 

[pickaflower]

@Eggcessive @azygous @Kiki
I’m not sure myself, but I’ve seen these names thrown around. Hopefully they’ll chime in and offer some feedback.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

It looks like the chick hasn't pierced through the membrane for some reason.
Your humidity is way too high too. I wouldn't go past 70%.

 

[KristysBoys]

Big thing here is the membrane drying out. It'll become like a hard candy coating that they can't break. If it has been over 48 hours, I'd experimentally pull some of the shell off to see 1) if the blood vessels and such absorbed 2) if the membrane is as hard as it looks.


If the membrane is hard the chick is going to be trapped and may suffocate. So, go ahead and get them out of the shell. Take a warm damp (not wet) cloth and soften the membrane especially if it is blocking their nostrils and vent. You can help pull some of it off or just keep it moist and see if they can kick out if they aren't too exhausted.

Be very careful if you help get the membrane off, so you don't hurt them. Example: Make sure you don't tug on the umbilical cord instead of clipping it off, for instance.
I'm sure someone else will come along with some other tips.

 

[KristysBoys]

And as the poster above me stated, I keep my humidity about 65-70% during the lockdown and hatching phase.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not an expert on hatching, but here are 2 good articles that might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching.64660/

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Do you have a calibrated hygrometer for humidity ? If not your reader could be off
You can take coconut oil ti wet that membrane to look for blood veins and this will also keep it from drying out
I myself haven’t had one zip the shell and not the membrane at the same time
Usually zipping means ready ti fully hatch.

 

[Kiki]

First time hatching eggs. 5 have pipped. One has successfully hatched but she’ll stuck to her. I’m more worried about number 2 tho. She has fully unzipped almost but stopped and the membrane started turning dark quickly. The humidity was in the 79-89 range so it should not be too dry should it? Does this look normal ?

I don't think your humidity reading is correct.
Buy a separate humidity gauge and salt tested it before you set eggs again.

If a chick has already zipped it is usually safe to go ahead and help it get unstuck.

It is usu6 not a good idea to help if a chick has not popped and or zipped.


I'd slowly take the chick out of I were you.
Read both assisting articles before you start.

 

[Apenn11]

I don't think your humidity reading is correct.
Buy a separate humidity gauge and salt tested it before you set eggs again.

If a chick has already zipped it is usually safe to go ahead and help it get unstuck.

It is usu6 not a good idea to help if a chick has not popped and or zipped.


I'd slowly take the chick out of I were you.
Read both assisting articles before you start.

Thank you. You’re right. The humidity was not right! I was able to somehow get it out luckily and all 5 survived. My separate humidity gauge i found to put in there showed 48! Incubator was showing 84.

 

[Apenn11]

I don't think your humidity reading is correct.
Buy a separate humidity gauge and salt tested it before you set eggs again.

If a chick has already zipped it is usually safe to go ahead and help it get unstuck.

It is usu6 not a good idea to help if a chick has not popped and or zipped.


I'd slowly take the chick out of I were you.
Read both assisting articles before you start.

You’re right. It was way off. 48 versus incubator showed over 80. I had not much clue what I was doing but luckily got it out. All 5 survived. A few came out with the egg shells stuck to them and then the third one couldn’t get out at all. The membrane was so tough I could barely even get it poked through. . Once I got the humidity right the last two came out fine so no harm had been done to them since they had not started zipping yet I guess.