Pipping

[Orpy]

First time hatching.

It's day 19 of the incubation period (all eggs hopefully hatching under my broody hen).

I'm expecting to see a little chipped out hole in the egg from the chick, but since I've never had this experience before am I expecting too much?

Has anyone got tales of their hatching experience around this stage of hatching?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I can tell you whats going on inside the eggs.... its exciting!! https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Understanding The Hatching Process

Between the 15th and 16th days, the chick orients itself so that its head is near the air cell at the large end of the egg. Not long before the chick is ready to attempt to make its way out of the shell its neck acquires a double bend so that its beak is under its right wing and pointed toward the air cell.
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21 DAYS is just a baseline for hatching eggs.
Many chicks can take 23 - 25 days!
Some pip internally and fully hatch in hours while others will be 24 hours or more.

Egg movement! Eggs can “Rock n Roll” days before they are due to hatch!

The initiation of hatch occurs partially from the increased carbon dioxide level in the egg. This process causes the embryo to begin twitching it's muscles allowing the inner shell membrane to be punctured by the egg tooth. The chick then begins breathing the air in the air cell. Using its egg tooth, it pecks at the shell thousands of times and after a few hours the chick pips a small hole through the shell and begins to breathe air directly from the outside. After the chick has made a hole in the shell, it stops pipping for 8+ hours sometimes up to 24 hours and rests.
During this time, it is acclimating its lungs.

After the resting stage is completed the second stage of pipping begins. The chick begins to turn slowly inside the egg. As the chick turns counter-clockwise it uses the cutting edge of the chick tooth to chip away. As the chick progresses in its movement around the shell, it begins pushing on the large air cell end of the egg. Squirming and struggling! YES STRUGGLING! The chick works feverishly pushing at the cap. Finally with a shove the chick breaks free from the shell wet and exhausted. When the chick is freed completely from the shell it lies still. Its energy has been virtually exhausted, and it is extremely tired. After resting the chick begins to gain more and more energy and coordination of its muscles.





In regards to opening and closing the bator to remove already hatch chicks; It is important to remember that chicks can go 3 days without food/water. It is better to wait for the remaining chicks to hatch to insure reducing the impact to unhatched pipping eggs.

But my new chick is running around in the bator knocking eggs around!
LET THEM GO! DO NOT OPEN THE INCUBATOR! They are fine!

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[Sally Sunshine]

Good Luck with your hatch!! what kind you have in??

 

[Orpy]

Good Luck with your hatch!! what kind you have in??

Thanks for the info above as well

Under my broody hens are my Belgian Bearded d'Uccle bantams (day 19).


I have my incubator going as well, it's only the first week of incubating and the first time I've used it as well, so using the incubator this time is more for "perfecting" the temperature and humidity. One of our friends gave me some eggs to try in it (impatiently I candled the eggs on day 5 and seen some viable eggs). I've got Ancona, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Plymouth Rocks and some Silver Wyandotte Partridge eggs incubating. So far so good

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: oh Wonderful!!! What a great selection too!!! KIT and let us know how it goes!!

 

[Orpy]

YAY

DAY 20 - my first pipped egg (EVER)

 

[Orpy]

Exactly day 21 and little Chirpy is on the loose

 

[TweetyNPetey]

Congratulations on your new chicks!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Orpy]

Congratulations on your new chicks!!!!!!!!!!

thank you

this is chick number 2, very quiet is this 1...the other 1 (Chirpy) tried hopping out of my hand

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: awwwww! Congrats!