Should I assist?

[HeatherMarieR]

Yesterday I came home around 2:00 (end of day 20), and one of my chicks had pipped. It hasn't made any progress since then, and it's been at least 17-18 hours since it pipped. Two of the others have already hatched and are running around the incubator. Should I go ahead and take the egg out and see if the chick is still alive and needs help?

 

[annmarie33]

I'm about to do my first hatch so I'm not much help with experience. But from what I've read you shouldn't intervene until 24 hours after. It might be just resting. But check to make sure the membrane isn't tan and dried. I think you can get a q-tip with warm water and gently put on membrane or some wrap slightly in a damp paper towel.

 

[HeatherMarieR]

Thanks! This is my first hatch too, and I've been reading a lot about assisted hatches over the last few weeks just in case. Right after I posted this, it finally started zipping. Hopefully it'll have hatched by the time I get home in a few hours.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks! This is my first hatch too, and I've been reading a lot about assisted hatches over the last few weeks just in case. Right after I posted this, it finally started zipping. Hopefully it'll have hatched by the time I get home in a few hours.

Zipping should not take more than 1/2 hour or so. That is not a lengthy process like internal to external pip and external pip to zip. Mine average 15 minutes if that once they start the zip. (But I also play "chick music" while they zip to keep them motivated.) If a chick stalls during zip and makes no progress for half an hour, I'd be checking on them.

As for when to assist during a pip. Chicks can take up to 24 hours. I never let mine go past 24 w/o starting an assist. Usually around 18 hours after pip if there has been no progress I pull the egg out widen the pip and check positioning make sure there is no foot over beak/head that would keep them from finishing. Usually it's just a matter of they aren't ready. Vascular system is still shutting down to the egg. So I wet the membrane and stick them back in. If no progress by 24 hours I will attempt to start an assist and see how far I get before running into veining and having to stop. Usually when I start an assist, the chick finishes it.

 

[HeatherMarieR]

Thanks for the help! It seemed to be making a lot of progress zipping when I left, so I'm pretty hopeful that it's hatched by now. I'll be home in about 30 minutes so I'll find out.

 

[HeatherMarieR]

I got home just in time to see it finish zipping and hatch. I'm kind of worried about it since it took a few hours to zip.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I got home just in time to see it finish zipping and hatch. I'm kind of worried about it since it took a few hours to zip.

If it's active and seems strong, don't worry. There's always always always exceptions to EVERYTHING we say....lol If it seems lethargic or weak then try water with electrolytes in it (I use save a chick in my water the first couple days after hatch.) If you don't have save a chick or pedialyte, I have heard people using gatorade in the water. A teaspoon of sugar to a quart waterer is another one used for weak/stressed chicks.

 

[HeatherMarieR]

It's moving around quite a bit, but it's taking forever to dry off. The others were being too rough on it, so I went ahead and put them in the brooder since they're nice and dry and fluffy.

 

[annmarie33]

The hatchery I ordered from said to use a drop of honey on their beak and that worked for the weak chick I had