Should I assist hatch?

[SJFougere]

I have one egg left out of seven. I had two broody hens and when their chicks hatched they abandoned one nest that had two dudes and this one other egg that seems viable so I put it in the incubator. The last one of the chicks hatched last night it was pretty shrink wrapped after it pipped and stopped for over 12 hours. This last left over egg was chirping but it isn't any longer and it's moving less and less. I am wondering if I should try to help out or not. This little point here on the second picture does seem to move sometimes and I'm wondering if that could be the beak. Maybe it's just not as far along as the others, I'm not sure. I dont want to wait too long to help but I dont want to interfere if it's just not ready yet.

 

[GodLovesU]

Don’t help until it externally pips.

 

[Slothinc]

I have one egg left out of seven. I had two broody hens and when their chicks hatched they abandoned one nest that had two dudes and this one other egg that seems viable so I put it in the incubator. The last one of the chicks hatched last night it was pretty shrink wrapped after it pipped and stopped for over 12 hours. This last left over egg was chirping but it isn't any longer and it's moving less and less. I am wondering if I should try to help out or not. This little point here on the second picture does seem to move sometimes and I'm wondering if that could be the beak. Maybe it's just not as far along as the others, I'm not sure. I dont want to wait too long to help but I dont want to interfere if it's just not ready yet. View attachment 4072690

To me it doesn’t look like the chick has internally pipped yet. So I wonder if it was this egg that was actually peeping? They can’t peep if they haven’t pipped into the air cell yet. I would guess that this chick is either not as far along as the others, or it has died early.

 

[SJFougere]

To me it doesn’t look like the chick has internally pipped yet. So I wonder if it was this egg that was actually peeping? They can’t peep if they haven’t pipped into the air cell yet. I would guess that this chick is either not as far along as the others, or it has died early.

Ah you're right that makes so much sense. It must have been another one i'd heard. It's definitely still moving in there today. It is possible I got it mixed up with another egg. I will leave it alone for a few more days and then do another candle!

 

[Shadrach]

Should I assist hatch?​

I say no. I say no because once set on the path of hatching with a broody hen one should from that point on let the hen make the decisions. I've interfered in the past and regretted it. I realise you've had complications with a double sit. My view still stands.
Say one saves the chick. There are no guarantees that the hen will accept it after being seperated from it. It's also quite possible the egg hasn't hatched because there is something wrong with the chick. The few I have helped when deserted by their mother have all had something wrong with them and didn't survive in a free range keeping arrangement.

 

[Slothinc]

Ah you're right that makes so much sense. It must have been another one i'd heard. It's definitely still moving in there today. It is possible I got it mixed up with another egg. I will leave it alone for a few more days and then do another candle!

I think that’s a good idea, it looks to be a couple of days from hatching!

 

[casportpony]

I have one egg left out of seven. I had two broody hens and when their chicks hatched they abandoned one nest that had two dudes and this one other egg that seems viable so I put it in the incubator. The last one of the chicks hatched last night it was pretty shrink wrapped after it pipped and stopped for over 12 hours. This last left over egg was chirping but it isn't any longer and it's moving less and less. I am wondering if I should try to help out or not. This little point here on the second picture does seem to move sometimes and I'm wondering if that could be the beak. Maybe it's just not as far along as the others, I'm not sure. I dont want to wait too long to help but I dont want to interfere if it's just not ready yet.

Great pictures! That's nowhere near being ready to hatch.

 

[SJFougere]

You all were right. I left it alone and the little guy hatched out just fine. Though he didn't seem happy when he did. Unfortunately the hen did reject him so now he's brooding by himself in my living room.

 

[Slothinc]

You all were right. I left it alone and the little guy hatched out just fine. Though he didn't seem happy when he did. Unfortunately the hen did reject him so now he's brooding by himself in my living room.

So glad he was able to hatch and you gave him more time!! I would try to find him a couple of chick friends, either from a feed store (though they are hard to get this year) or from a private seller in your area. He will be so much happier if he can have some little buddies to grow with!

 

[SJFougere]

So glad he was able to hatch and you gave him more time!! I would try to find him a couple of chick friends, either from a feed store (though they are hard to get this year) or from a private seller in your area. He will be so much happier if he can have some little buddies to grow with!

I am trying to but there's not a lot of bantams around me and I'm afraid to put bigger chicks in with him. I'll keep trying though. I had a few people reach out with hatches going on this weekend. For now I carry him around while I'm home.