Power outage, what to expect? Help please.

[vonmatter]

I always panic a bit about assisting hatches, let me tag a few who can add some sound advice.

@Debbie292d @TwoCrows

Oh, yep, a little creepy scary, but usually, it's better than letting them die, I just panic already to have this egg moving for so long, and fear the chick would end up suffocating. I've read all the articles here but this part is still not clear to me, whether I should close the safety hole or not, to me if the chick didn't open the outer membrane it makes sense to close the hole in the shell, but I really don't know.

 

[-chook-]

Following to see how it goes for you! Good luck!!!!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hey everybody,

I used a rubber shelf liner at the start of lockdown, now it has been 24h and still no pipped egg but some rolling and shaking eggs.

The liner completely messed up my parameters couldn't control nothing either temperature or humidity.

So I prepared a big sleeping bag on top of me and the incubator, turned an USB humidifier under it, and opened the lid as fast as possible; took the liner out and opened a safety hole in the egg that was for 24h shaking with no piping.

I've checked, the chick is alive and it has not piped the outer membrane, what should I do now? Should I cover the safety hole with wet paper to prevent the inner membrane from drying out or just leave it open?

I believe that somehow the power outages of 12 to 13 hours caused some malposition, besides delaying the hatch.

I would just leave that one alone. It's got to be soon to be coming out. I have to commend you on the creativeness to do that though!

I'd give it a few more hours and see if it makes progress.

This article should help you decide when to break in. It's so hard when you're not really sure when they're due.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[2ndTink]

Oh, yep, a little creepy scary, but usually, it's better than letting them die, I just panic already to have this egg moving for so long, and fear the chick would end up suffocating. I've read all the articles here but this part is still not clear to me, whether I should close the safety hole or not, to me if the chick didn't open the outer membrane it makes sense to close the hole in the shell, but I really don't know.

I help them too when I think they need it, its just so stressful trying to guess the right time. I never like to lose one that should have made it

 

[vonmatter]

I would just leave that one alone. It's got to be soon to be coming out. I have to commend you on the creativeness to do that though!

I'd give it a few more hours and see if it makes progress.

This article should help you decide when to break in. It's so hard when you're not really sure when they're due.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Thanks, I've read it a few times I only don't understand this part-> “A safety hole should be made if the chick has been internally pipped for 18 to 24 hours with no progress”, what if it was not internally pipped but it has passes 24h and is still moving? And also this part-> “Widening it may even lead to shrinkwrapping“ so, would it lead to it even if it's a small hole? And should I close it back?

I've read somewhere, a while ago, to wet a paper towel and cover that safety hole but, I just can't remember it for sure or from where I got the reference.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thanks, I've read it a few times I only don't understand this part-> “A safety hole should be made if the chick has been internally pipped for 18 to 24 hours with no progress”, what if it was not internally pipped but it has passes 24h and is still moving? And also this part-> “Widening it may even lead to shrinkwrapping“ so, would it lead to it even if it's a small hole? And should I close it back?

I've read somewhere, a while ago, to wet a paper towel and cover that safety hole but, I just can't remember it for sure or from where I got the reference.

You had done such a good job ensuring there wasn't a humidity loss. The wet paper towel is used to keep the membrane moist after someone opens the incubator and the membrane dries out, and the chick will have a harder time getting it open. But if there was no humidity loss, it's fine as it was in the 70% humidity.

I don't like using wet paper towels as they dry out. So then you're opening the incubator again to put a different one on. If that's the only egg, that's fine, but if there are other ones pipping and hatching in there, the humidity is rising, and that egg should be okay.

I'm so afraid of advising you to break away the eggshell where its head is, but if you feel you should, that's what I'd do, then see if you can get the membrane off its head only. Then wait a few hours and see if it gets itself out.