No external pip

[Laura_tudor]

Hi guys got an incubator with 9 Ixworth eggs, one egg pipped internally at 10 am YESTERDAY, today we are on day 22 and still no external pip and it's been 27+ hours. I can see she's still breathing when candled but she's stopped pecking at the shell and I can no longer hear her tiny tweets?! Help!!

 

[Sgt_P]

Can you give a few more details??
Assuming you're in lockdown, what temp and humidity?
Is she positioned correctly, in case others advise to create a tiny air hole in the top of the egg?
Have you read the "When to intervene" thread(s) in the stickys??

 

[Laura_tudor]

So from day 1 I've been set at 37.7°c and 55 humidity. I've been in lockdown since day 18 and rose the humidity to 65. She seems to be in the correct position as I can clearly see her beak in the air sack but she's stopped chirping and moving.

 

[Sgt_P]

Based on your details and what I've read and studied (I'm not an expert, by far!), I would make an tiny air-hole and get her some air.
I hate giving advice for something I've not done yet. But I know you are nervous and the replies are slow this morning. And, I've studied a bunch.
But, take a minute and read the stickies first, then be ready to drill and babysit and keep moist, etc...

 

[Mablethechicken]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Scroll to the section Safety Holes!

 

[Sgt_P]

Please update as this progresses... (hoping for good news!!!)

 

[Laura_tudor]

Thank you both I will definitely keep you informed.

OK so I've read read and read everything I could find. I decided to make a safety hole in the center of the air cell to make sure I didnt hit any thing I didnt mean to by going to close to blood vessels.

I can see the chick inside, she is breathing and now I know she has air I've set her back in the incubator to do her thing. What do you suggest I keep the humidity at at this stage? Currently at 65.

Hopefully by this time tomorrow she will have progressed

 

[Sgt_P]

Personally, I'd up the humidity. You don't want her to dry out and run the risk of "shrink-wrapping".

 

[Laura_tudor]

Personally, I'd up the humidity. You don't want her to dry out and run the risk of "shrink-wrapping".

This is where the membrane dries up around her yes?
Is 70 OK or even higher!?

 

[Sgt_P]

Because your humidity was pretty high pre-lockdown, I'd go to 75 now.

Apparently, higher humidity early on, can lead to thicker membranes. Maybe that is why she had a hard time after internally piping (it wore her out). Now that air is inside the shell, the worry turns to the membrane drying.

But don't worry, nature is tough, and humidity is different for different areas, etc. The variables are probably too many to count. You're doing well! When your little chick is ready to proceed, just keep an eye and ear on her!