I had to do that with two of mine in a different hatch. as long as there is not blood showing in the cord I guess it is ok. One of mine was acting like it was hurting it because it just kept crying out so I had to do it.Well I helped it along and it was still struggling, but it finally managed to free itself from the bulk of the shell. Then I noticed that the umbilical cord was still attached to the shell. It just was still on its side for a long time so I just let it be. For probably 40 minutes or so. Then I went to check and it was trying to move around, dragging that shell. The little thing was just flopping around. I debated and debated and finally just snipped it free from the shell. I was worried about it catching that shell on the other eggs and pulling the cord and its bowels from its body. It calmed right down when I did that and again just rested. It was just up running around and fluffing up. But it does seem different from the ones that hatched yesterday. I guess it must be just flat worn out.
As for the other two, not a lot of progress with them. I am not opening that thing back up for a long time. All the others seem to be doing fine out in the brooder. We are having some really bad weather, with temps down in the low 40's with howling wind and pouring rain. It is chilly in the garage, so they are staying under the heater. All of my older hens and teenagers that are outside are not impressed with this weather either, especially after having days of temps up in the 80's. I have been busy working in the Angry Birds cake I have to deliver tomorrow...so sadly, I can just sit in front of the incubator like I did yesterday.
Our weather here is not nice either. We have had that fluctuating warm then cold weather all spring. I am getting tired of it.
