Small end pip

[kuchchicks]

Today is day 20. First one pipped last night around 9pm and hatched today around noon. Currently 6 others pipped. One of those has pipped at the small end (Blue Laced Red Wyandot). He made a little whole where his beak is early this morning but has made no further progress (about 9 hours). Does not look like he is able to move. He is making little sound and very little movement at this point. My gut tells me to help him out but I am concerned with it only being day 20 that the yolk sac has not completely absorbed. At the same time he looks weaker than this morning and I am concerned if I don't help he wont make it out. I don't want this to be a discuss of natural selection or only the strong survive, I am of the mindset to help out if needed. Just looking for those out there that have helped/not helped in this situation and outcomes. And BTW I have helped hatch out before with positive results and do feel comfortable aiding if needed.

 

[Sarafena1982]

I had two that did this on my last hatch. I helped both pip a little bit of a bigger hole just so I knew they could breath ok. After 20hrs I helped them zip a little. One of mine got out on it's own after that the other after 36hrs (day 22) I had to zip all the way for it and tilt the egg because it couldn't push it's way out the way her legs were in the shell. Best of luck!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Today is day 20. First one pipped last night around 9pm and hatched today around noon. Currently 6 others pipped. One of those has pipped at the small end (Blue Laced Red Wyandot). He made a little whole where his beak is early this morning but has made no further progress (about 9 hours). Does not look like he is able to move. He is making little sound and very little movement at this point. My gut tells me to help him out but I am concerned with it only being day 20 that the yolk sac has not completely absorbed. At the same time he looks weaker than this morning and I am concerned if I don't help he wont make it out. I don't want this to be a discuss of natural selection or only the strong survive, I am of the mindset to help out if needed. Just looking for those out there that have helped/not helped in this situation and outcomes. And BTW I have helped hatch out before with positive results and do feel comfortable aiding if needed.

You know you aren't going to get a "natural selection" lecture from me...lol

I would start by making the pip a little bigger and checking out the position and if there's any probability of being able to tell if the yolk is absorbed. If the positioning is ok and the membranes are ok then he might be ok to leave a bit longer. However, his positioning might be so messed up he'll just tire himself out and expire. I'd say, widen the pip and assess the situation. I am sure once you do that, you'll know by your gut whether you need to help and how much. That's my opinion.

 

[kuchchicks]

That's why I love your advice Amy!!!

So here is my update. It's been a crazy couple of days. I had an 87% hatch rate that I am very please with. But it was not an easy hatch. All of my eggs hatched easily and unassisted except for 3 of my Blue Laced Reds. These came from my own barn and have hatched some of these guys with each round. I have never had an issue with them before. The first one was breech; originally I only made the pip a little larger to make sure that he was able to breath okay. I was hoping that he would just hatch on his own. While I will help if I think it is really needed I would rather not... I think nature knows best and would rather have her behind the wheel. BUT this time this little guy could just not move. At the end of the day my gut was telling me this little guy was losing steam and was not going to hold on. So I did help him out and his belly was not finished. I put him in a moist towel in a cup, where he remained in the fetal position for about 24 hours. During the night his little umbilical cord started to bleed so I ended up tying it off until it dried up. The next morning he had freed himself from the cup and was running around with the other chicks. He is doing great! His two siblings pipped and started to zip great. But both only ever zipped half way around and then stopped. I really have no idea why. After letting them remain that way for about 6 and 8 hours I also ended up helping them finish up. I was really surprised but they were "glued" in place. The reason I was so surprised is because I tend to keep my humidity at 75% for lock down and by the time these guys were zipping it was actually over 80% because I had several hatching at the same time (which shot my humidity up). I have never had a chick "glued" in the shell like that. I did not think that would happen with my humidity up so high... thoughts?

Anyway, all's well that ends well. 87% hatch rate is my personal best!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

That's why I love your advice Amy!!!

So here is my update. It's been a crazy couple of days. I had an 87% hatch rate that I am very please with. But it was not an easy hatch. All of my eggs hatched easily and unassisted except for 3 of my Blue Laced Reds. These came from my own barn and have hatched some of these guys with each round. I have never had an issue with them before. The first one was breech; originally I only made the pip a little larger to make sure that he was able to breath okay. I was hoping that he would just hatch on his own. While I will help if I think it is really needed I would rather not... I think nature knows best and would rather have her behind the wheel. BUT this time this little guy could just not move. At the end of the day my gut was telling me this little guy was losing steam and was not going to hold on. So I did help him out and his belly was not finished. I put him in a moist towel in a cup, where he remained in the fetal position for about 24 hours. During the night his little umbilical cord started to bleed so I ended up tying it off until it dried up. The next morning he had freed himself from the cup and was running around with the other chicks. He is doing great! His two siblings pipped and started to zip great. But both only ever zipped half way around and then stopped. I really have no idea why. After letting them remain that way for about 6 and 8 hours I also ended up helping them finish up. I was really surprised but they were "glued" in place. The reason I was so surprised is because I tend to keep my humidity at 75% for lock down and by the time these guys were zipping it was actually over 80% because I had several hatching at the same time (which shot my humidity up). I have never had a chick "glued" in the shell like that. I did not think that would happen with my humidity up so high... thoughts?

Anyway, all's well that ends well. 87% hatch rate is my personal best!

Remind me, do you have a fan forced bator???

 

[kuchchicks]

I do. I have the Hova Bator 1588 Genesis.

I did consider the fan could dry things out but since my humidity was in the high 70s to low 80s at the time, it really surprised me.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I do. I have the Hova Bator 1588 Genesis.

I did consider the fan could dry things out but since my humidity was in the high 70s to low 80s at the time, it really surprised me.

I had one in my second hatch I had to help, and you know I keep my humidty high high high, and the membranes were stuck and drying. But he was right under a little to the side of the fan where you feel the most air. I really think that the fans themselves can cause dry membranes by directly "blowing" or having the air flow directly hitting them. It's nothing I've seen "officially", about it, but I really think it does.

 

[kuchchicks]

You know now that you say that, that is exactly where BOTH of those eggs were sitting. I guess the only thing to do is to watch those eggs closely and and if they are taking too long to maybe either mist them a little or move them. This is my second hatch in this bator, but the other eggs seemed to zip a lot faster. The ones on the last hatch that did zip and then needed a little assistance did not push out right away either. Just never had "glued" chicks before.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

You know now that you say that, that is exactly where BOTH of those eggs were sitting. I guess the only thing to do is to watch those eggs closely and and if they are taking too long to maybe either mist them a little or move them. This is my second hatch in this bator, but the other eggs seemed to zip a lot faster. The ones on the last hatch that did zip and then needed a little assistance did not push out right away either. Just never had "glued" chicks before.

I really think they do affect them. My eggs are usually fully zipped in 20 minutes ish...lol