Pipped Below Air Cell =(

[SweetMissDaisy]

Hi,
A chick this AM pipped below the aircell, and seems to have drown. I'm so sad... I *really* wanted this chick -- it was a cross I've been hoping for all spring!

What would cause this?

Is this what's considered "shrink-wrapped"? I hear that term used, but I'm not sure that's what causes chicks to pip below the air cell.

 

[Dirt Road]

Too high humidity throughout incubation could cause the air cell to be too small, making it impossible for the chick to position correctly to hatch. If you open the egg, and the chick is not upside down, (head in the small end of the egg), then it is likely a humidity related problem. It could be an individual egg issue, with shell too thick or not porous enough, or a problem with the entire incubation procedure. If other eggs in the setting have problems or if the others are ok you will be able to decide. If the head is in the small end of the egg, then the egg was likely not in the correct position during incubation. And sometimes, as with all living things something just goes wrong, and no good reason can be found. In any case, it is not the same as "shrink wrapped" a term I don't care for as it doesn't actually describe the problem, or at least the cause for the problem.

Jim