Should I help?!? *UPDATE - chick out and doing well - thanks!

[quiltnchik]

I have a Dom chick that pipped about 36 hours ago. Its beak is through the shell and it has a rather large hole, but seems to be having trouble zipping (I'm using the egg carton method - they were in a turner for 18 days and are "due" today). Should I help or give it more time? The first one hatched last night and didn't have any problems, but this one is starting to worry me. HELP!

 

[Barnyard]

That is going to be your judgement call!! You are gonna get 2 different answer's to that question on here. If it was me and it has been 36 hours.....I would help. I would take me a pair of tweezers and gently break the shell away on the outside, carefull not to get the membrane. If you see any blood at all stop, wrap in a warm rag, or papertowel and put it back in the bator!! Goodluck....

 

[jimnjay]

Weather to help or not is a hard decision. Sometimes they can't zip for a reason and helping just gives you a weak chick that will not make it anyway. I seem to always help them out and have had very good results. I don't keep track of them after they are up and about and running with the rest so I don't know if they may be the ones that later on have issues. I have had some that are more prone to Cocci and seem to go light. It is really hard to hear them peeping and not do something. I doubt that the chick will make any progress if the beak is out of the shell, it is most likely dried out. You might try putting the egg on a warm damp cloth for a while and see if additional moisture will help.

I have found that if the pip early and don't progress the membrane drys out and they are not able to do anything from that point on. If you decide to help read the thread on helping at the top of this forum.