should I intervene or let them be?

[Chicks4MyFamily]

we have 3 of 5 eggs that started to hatch last night at 6pm. One chick is out and drying in the incubator the other 2 eggs have a nice size hole of shell off, but just a hole. They are still alive...I can still hear them chirping. They don't seem to be making any progress since about 9pm. I have had a little difficulty getting the humidity as high as suggested, but wondering...do I let them alone? How long do I wait before I try to chip away some of the shell?

 

[chicmom]

I have eggs hatching right now, and from experience, I can tell you that I always, ALWAYS regret it when I "help" a chick out of the egg. Try to resist helping.......IT IS SOOOO HARD, I KNOW!

 

[chicmom]

I wanted to add that alot of the times, they aren't totally finished "cooking" and they just aren't ready to hatch.......I would let it be for now.....

 

[OldChurchEggery1]

Let them rest. It could take up to 24 hours for them to go from a pip to being ready to hatch. They're probably still absorbing the last bits of yolk and draining the blood supply in the vessels the grow along the membrane. I had one Wheaten Marans chick from my weekend hatch pip on Saturday night but not hatch out of the egg 'til Sunday evening.

 

[MamaMarcy]

x2 they probably are still absorbing their yolk and when are done will pop right out

 

[cmom]

I would check them and make sure they're not stuck . If it has pipped but not started zipping it could be stuck and can't move to zip especially since you have had some humidity issues. Just my opinion.

 

[Chicks4MyFamily]

thanks for all the advice. I put a warm wet paper towel around the pip and they both were able to hatch withouth further assistance. I think low humidity was the culprit!

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

Quote:
Thats great!!!

Now pics are a must!!!!!!!!

 

[Sliprock]

Congrats! I too am one that wants too help. I suffered major humidity issues on a few hatches this year and got terrible results. I helped one on the first hatch and she is now a big fluffy 6 month old silkie...sweet as can be. Next hatch we had another pip and stop...I waited about 24 hrs and couldnt stand it..seemed to be getting quieter and quieter...so I again attempted to play doctor...poor baby still hadnt absorbed but half the yolk and died shortly there after. Im a big ole boy...but that broke my heart...never again. I'll do all I can to assure the enviroment is right and after that its up to them....I think...lol

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Congratulations!!!