should I assist this little one?

[mommaschickens]

Hi, this is my first hatch, and the first egg pipped at noon yesterday. The chick then made a bigger hole at about 7-9pm. Since then the chick has become quiet and has made no progress. I can see it breathing, so I know it's alive still. Should I help since it's been trying to zip for 12 hours? I did read the assisting thread, but I'm still nervous. I have 3 other piped eggs and a chick in the incubator. Thanks!

 

[WalnutHill]

If it's still breathing, I'd wait. What are your temperature and humidity readings right now?

 

[Titanpaul726]

I agree. I would wait a little longer as well. Make sure the humidity is high enough and see how things go.

 

[mommaschickens]

Temp is 99.5, humidity 70%. He tries to get out every now and then, but just keeps pushing through the hole he made last night.

 

[lazy gardener]

He may be stuck, and unable to turn to complete the pip. It's your call, you are the only one there to assess the situation, and you know your comfort level. If the membranes appear to be totally absorbed of blood, you could do a little bit to assist him to enlarge the zip he's got started. But, before trying that, why don't you try Amy Lynn's suggestion of playing a video of chicks chirping. There are several of them on the net.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Temp is 99.5, humidity 70%. He tries to get out every now and then, but just keeps pushing through the hole he made last night.

He may be having a problem turning to continue the zip. I am usually with everyone else in waiting-when it's a pip, but I have a problem when it's a zip because generally once they start zipping, they usually finish w/in minutes. Most cases I've seen where a chick has started a significant pip and stopped and sat that long and wasn't aidded did not turn out well. I would differ in my actions, than my peers and I would pull him out and check to see if maybe the membranes inside haven't dried and glued against him keeping him from making that turn to finish. I would moisten the membrane and either continue the zip for him, leaving him little to push himself out of, or freeing him from any membrane that might be gluing him. That's my opinion.

LOL,yes, I usually suggest playing a chick cheeping video first to see if that motivates them to finish...lol

 

[WalnutHill]

Agreed. After 24 hours, if he's not progressing, he may be in trouble.

 

[mommaschickens]

Thanks for all the help! I decided to help him. I took him out, finished the zip, and wet the membranes. He was ready! I could hardly get him back in the incubator before he hatched! He looks great so far. I waited until right after another chick had hatched, and took him out then. Since the humidity was so high at that point, I was able to keep it at 74% the whole time! Hopefully I didn't cause problems for the others. I feel better either way. Thanks! here he/she is:

 

[WalnutHill]

I am trying to keep my hands out of my incubator with two pips...the older maybe 10 hours along...the urge to get in there and do something is SO strong.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks for all the help! I decided to help him. I took him out, finished the zip, and wet the membranes. He was ready! I could hardly get him back in the incubator before he hatched! He looks great so far. I waited until right after another chick had hatched, and took him out then. Since the humidity was so high at that point, I was able to keep it at 74% the whole time! Hopefully I didn't cause problems for the others. I feel better either way. Thanks! here he/she is:

That's great! And as long as your humidity is well above safe humidity levels, opening the bator is not as awful as people make out. Yes, the less you mess with them and open the bator the less there is of any risk....but it will not cause certain death. I'm sure if some people saw how often my bator is open during hatch they'd probably have heart attack!! lol (Without any ill effects.) I'm not advising anyone to be as carefree as I am, I'm just saying that the notion of certain death or even that it will certainly cause problems because you've opened the bator is foolish as long as you taking the correct precautions by having your humidity in a safe range and making sure that it quickly is replaced after.