Pipped 24+ hours ago on DAY 18 still no zip

[kattitude45]

ok, so this is my first hatch. I had a chick pip externally yesterday about 12 hours into day 18! The chickie pipped over 24 hours now with little progress. The shell is slightly more pipped, but no zipping or really even moving a lot. There is beak movement and the egg slightly rocks from time to time. The egg next to it pipped and is really trying to get out! Should I worry? The membrane around the pip is a little brown. It's only day 19 now and I only have two pips of 6. How long do I wait? I have video too but do not know how to upload it! It's the blue/green egg on the left. I would not be so concerned if the membrane was not discolored. But the chick is still trying, just not as much as the one to the right~

 

[lightchick]

I'd wait.

 

[kattitude45]

I am waiting I was most concerned because the color of the membrane. I have never hatched before, I read that it's more of a concern if the membrane is discolored! But the chick is moving more now and seems to be packing at the tiny hole a little more! I'm hopeful now even though it's been like 27 hours now.

 

[kattitude45]

OK, so it's now been over 32 hours. Chick is alive and I can see it's break, but has made little progress. I have 5 pips of 6 eggs. I don't want to Mrs up the others, but it's hard to watch this chick not get out. Can it still make it out after that long?

 

[gvh221]

Hello Kattitude45,

I have actually experienced this, and feel as though maybe I can help. Looking at your picture I can tell you're using a brinsea incubator, right? If you look along the sides of the brinsea globe you will find two small holes.... Use a medicine dropper or straw and add a few drops of water through the holes. This will help increase humidity without raising the lid; which will help soften the brown membrane. I have had chicks that pipped and didn't hatch for 48 hours or more later, so there is still hope. If he/she is meant to hatch, it will do so when it hears and feels the others hatching. In the future, I would suggest checking your brinsea's temperature with a reliable thermometer; I only suggest this because mine was off by almost two degrees, and I experienced day 18/19 hatches. Now that I have checked the temperature with a thermometer, my hatches occur like clockwork on day 21. Good luck, and let us know how it goes

 

[gvh221]

Additionally, I can assure you that once the other chicks hatch if it is meant to be than the one you are concerned about will hatch too. I've had eggs that have been pipped forever, pipped on the wrong end and on the bottom, etc...but once they get banged around by hatched chicks, they join the party. If the troublesome chick hasn't hatched a couple hours after others hatch, then I would consider assisting.

 

[kattitude45]

Additionally, I can assure you that once the other chicks hatch if it is meant to be than the one you are concerned about will hatch too. I've had eggs that have been pipped forever, pipped on the wrong end and on the bottom, etc...but once they get banged around by hatched chicks, they join the party. If the troublesome chick hasn't hatched a couple hours after others hatch, then I would consider assisting.

Thanks ghv! I did add some water through the little holes, used a small syringe. I have my 2nd pip zipping. It pipped about 18-20 hours after the first first! I hope it encourages the one in the blue egg to pick it up! I have all 6 pipped now. 1 on day 18. one on early 19 and 4 this evening ( it just switched to day 20). If my well dries before the hatch finishes, what do I do? I filled it completely at lock down and it's over 1/2 way empty now. Also I did use a digital thermometer. I just took it out at lock down. It read 99 the entire time, as long as it was leaned up on the well. If I laid it flat it fell a few degrees. The built in read 100... I was a little confused as to which one to believe. Thank you for helping.

 

[kattitude45]

ok the chickie hatched!! 36 full hours after pipping!

it took a WHILE but she's (he's) doing good now! I have 2 hatched and my remaining 4 have pips! Thanks, Glad I did not panic and open the bator. Maybe I'll have all 6 hatch that made it to lock down!

 

[gvh221]

Congratulations! This is great news. In regard to water running out in the wells....once chicks hatch, the humidity shoots way up, so there is no need to add any more water for the remainder of the hatch. Digital thermometers can be good, but most of the posts I have read about them complain of their inconsistency. I use a regular thermometer (I think it's GQF) and it has always been right on the money. Congrats again on the hatch, and good luck with your little ones.

 

[kattitude45]

OK, thanks, I'll look for one, because it did not have 1/2 degree readings. I'm going to hatch again soon! I have ONE porcelain Belgian D'uccle and we adore her... I have to find some eggs, she needs friends! Oh and one of the silkies hatched around 3am! I still have 3 that are just pips! I did not add more water. I read about the humidity after a chick hatches and the bator is still full of condensation now.