Should I intervene?

amd87

In the Brooder
Joined
Apr 24, 2025
Messages
34
Reaction score
19
Points
41
These two eggs have been like this for at least 15 hours now, maybe more. I found them like this at 6am, and they is it now 9pm. I’m worried about the other eggs if I open the incubator to take them out. What would you suggest? Wait to see in the morning?
The one with blood on the outside hasn’t moved all day. The one with the larger hole had worked intermittently throughout the day to get the hole bigger, but hasn’t started zipping yet.
Any suggestions?
 

Attachments

  • 32536FCB-6E4C-4061-9E15-1CCFB6A4D5CA.jpeg
    32536FCB-6E4C-4061-9E15-1CCFB6A4D5CA.jpeg
    353.2 KB · Views: 12
  • AB4D35BA-2901-483C-87BA-0AF61ADF55C8.jpeg
    AB4D35BA-2901-483C-87BA-0AF61ADF55C8.jpeg
    298.3 KB · Views: 5
I would intervene with the second one for sure by carefully cutting away the dried membrane because it looks like it could be shrink-wrapped. Hopefully someone with more hatching experience chimes in because I’ve only done one hatch but I had one like that and intervened
 
The one with blood I'd leave it be, unless the blood has dried. It was possibly pecked by a hatched chick shortly after pipping, but it wasn't or isn't quite ready to hatch. I have this happen when I've tried to assist to early and the veins haven't fully receded. If I see blood while assisting I wait overnight, or all day before trying to assist further. *Note, I don't think the blood is from you trying to assist, if I'm understanding the situation*

The second egg I would check on . . . listen to it, candle it and try to determine if they chick is still alive. If you see or hear the chick you could remove a tiny bit of shell from either side of the pip hole and apply a small (a smear on you finger tip) amount of oil olive on the membrane to ensure it's still moist. *apply this same method to the first egg if the blood is dried* If at any point on either egg you see fresh blood stop and wait, the chick isn't ready.

As for the pipped eggs you can apply a tiny amount of olive oil around the pips after checking on the two concerning eggs to replace any moisture they may lose from the incubator being opened.

I was typing this quickly so if anything is confusing don't hesitate to ask for clarification.

ETA: After removing a bit of shell and applying the oil, wait at least an hour before assisting further. Don't rush, the struggle to hatch helps the chick build strength.
 
The one with blood I'd leave it be, unless the blood has dried. It was possibly pecked by a hatched chick shortly after pipping, but it wasn't or isn't quite ready to hatch. I have this happen when I've tried to assist to early and the veins haven't fully receded. If I see blood while assisting I wait overnight, or all day before trying to assist further. *Note, I don't think the blood is from you trying to assist, if I'm understanding the situation*

The second egg I would check on . . . listen to it, candle it and try to determine if they chick is still alive. If you see or hear the chick you could remove a tiny bit of shell from either side of the pip hole and apply a small (a smear on you finger tip) amount of oil olive on the membrane to ensure it's still moist. *apply this same method to the first egg if the blood is dried* If at any point on either egg you see fresh blood stop and wait, the chick isn't ready.

As for the pipped eggs you can apply a tiny amount of olive oil around the pips after checking on the two concerning eggs to replace any moisture they may lose from the incubator being opened.

I was typing this quickly so if anything is confusing don't hesitate to ask for clarification.
Thank you for your response! I have not tried to help yet, so yes, I am guessing the blood is either from it pipping in the wrong spot or another chick. (I just removed a chick because it was packing everything like crazy!) The blood is dry. So I’ll add oil to the hole.

As for the larger hole one, the membrane I can see looks dry, but I can see inside and the chick is breathing and moving slightly. So I should just peel a little bit of the actual shell, and add some oil all around the edges?
Should I be concerned about the humidity and the others shrink wrapping? My humidity is sitting at 67%. When I quickly removed the chick earlier is dropped it 55% but rose back to 67% in about 5 minutes. It’s a small incubator.
 
I'd raise the humidity to 70% or higher if chicks are getting shrink wrapped. It could be the gauge for humidity is incorrect, or some eggs have slightly tougher shells. Use a clean damp (not soaked) rag or sponge. Use warm water so hatched chicks won't get a chill if they lay on it.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom