Should I assist?

[Maddison]

I have a chick thats pipped two big holes so far, its been over 24hrs and its stopped there, it hasn't made any progress and its beak is in the same place, it stopped about 4 hours ago, should I assist?

 

[Dimples_vixi]

I know some people say if it’s not meant to be it’s not meant to be. However due to the length of time I would personally chip the hole a little bit bigger, making sure it is only by the white membrane, any veins or blood stop immediately and put it back. Worth dampening the membrane as well as you go with warm water. It may be the case it’s still absorbing yolk so be very slow and careful if you do decide to help. I had to help a chick a month ago as the membrane dried round it so it couldn’t move.

 

[Maddison]

I know some people say if it’s not meant to be it’s not meant to be. However due to the length of time I would personally chip the hole a little bit bigger, making sure it is only by the white membrane, any veins or blood stop immediately and put it back. Worth dampening the membrane as well as you go with warm water. It may be the case it’s still absorbing yolk so be very slow and careful if you do decide to help. I had to help a chick a month ago as the membrane dried round it so it couldn’t move.

Its definitly possible it cant move, I had to open the incubator for awhile to fix the partitions in there, I put a damp cloth over it, it stopped chipping away shortly after that.

 

[featheredplanets]

You should put Vaseline or coconut oil on the membrane, not water or towels, they'll chill the chick. I personally would not help the chick just yet, could be doing more harm than good while he's just resting, as long as he can breathe, I'd let him try for a few more hours

 

[Maddison]

the chick ended up being shrinkwrapped, it had absorbed the yolk and was well overdue, I assisted it and its peeping a little weak but okay. I've put it back in the incubator to dry out but its taking longer than usual compared to the other 3 that were already in there drying out.

 

[Altfrizzle]

Good call!