I have a silkie hatch going on right now. I need some imput. This is the weirdest hatch I've had so far. They pipped today, and then they somehow got rid of most of the air sack part of the egg. They are still inside the shell last time I looked. Will they be alright since the whole air cell is open? It's been open for a few hours. I can see them breathing and moving a little bit and sometimes I see the eggs rocking back and forth.
It can take a while for the chick to completely zip the shell, so that it can get out. They have to peck it a little while and then rest a little while. Zipping that shell takes alot out of a baby chick. As long as you still see movement and breathing, then leave them to hatch on their own. I do not remember how long it can take for a chick to completely hatch after pipping the shell, but I know that a duckling takes longer (24 to 48 hours sometimes). It is not good to assist, but I have done so a few times. I hope that this helps. Dorothy