Time sensitive hatching question!

[Hutslark]

Oh man—so Saturday my eggs were supposed to hatch. Sunday morning my chicks started to hatch. Three were left and by Monday night only one of those had pipped so I took the other two out and set them on my counter because I did not want them to explode in the incubator—Assuming they were dead. Tuesday morning. I got curious what it looked like inside and I gently chipped away at one and hit a tiny bit of blood, which I assumed was normal, because it was probably the veins. I chipped one more piece away, and all of a sudden it started to move, and it looks like a little beak, and it started to chirp at me! I immediately put it back in the incubator and upped the humidity and it is chirping. I am enclosing a picture of the egg and just want to know if you think I should chip away more of the egg or let it be? I just can’t believe it would still be alive being out on my counter for a full day! It’s been in there a total of one hour and is moving and chirping less…..

 

[Hutslark]

If it’s already 3 days late, it probably won’t hatch. In my experience, the ones that don’t hatch with the main group rarely hatch. They may stay alive in the egg for a couple few days, but whatever problem prevented them from hatching on time also prevents them from hatching at all.

That’s not to say that there are never stragglers. But a viable straggler still hatches fairly normally, and fairly soon. Don’t worry that anything you did harmed this chick.

Btw, what happened with the pipped one you left in Monday night?

The pipped one died unfortunately. I can see the eye of this one blinking when I shine a light and it’s taking all my strength to leave it alone!!

 

[Finnie]

Ok, so let’s pretend a miracle WILL happen—-do I leave it for a few hours? A day? Do I try to pick more off? It’s literally blinking at me.

I give them as long as they are still alive. Since it is already partly opened, then I would chip a little more, very carefully and try not to hit a vein. If it still has veins, that means it has not absorbed the yolk yet, and it could bleed to death. If you moisten the membrane and see veins, then DO NOT CHIP it!*

Check it every few hours. Eventually the veins will be gone and you can chip more. Keep checking and putting it back as long as it’s not dead.

*Editing for clarity: it’s ok to chip just the shell as long as you don’t tear the membrane. Tearing the membrane is what will make the veins bleed and kill the chick.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Whatever means you did for checking the temperature do the same next hatch but incubate one degree F higher. Or you may not be counting the days correctly- If placed in an incubator on a Saturday then they hatch on a Saturday.

 

[Finnie]

If it’s already 3 days late, it probably won’t hatch. In my experience, the ones that don’t hatch with the main group rarely hatch. They may stay alive in the egg for a couple few days, but whatever problem prevented them from hatching on time also prevents them from hatching at all.

That’s not to say that there are never stragglers. But a viable straggler still hatches fairly normally, and fairly soon. Don’t worry that anything you did harmed this chick.

Btw, what happened with the pipped one you left in Monday night?

 

[WIchickMama]

I would start assisting, follow @Finnie advice and take your time

 

[Hutslark]

What happened in the end?
You should ALWAYS check for life before removing eggs. Never assume. They can hatch late.

You are right-I know that now. First-timer.
Unfortunately the chick died. Very sad. I don’t think I assisted fast enough. I should’ve peeled back more of the shell sooner.

 

[BelovedBirds]

You are right-I know that now. First-timer.
Unfortunately the chick died. Very sad. I don’t think I assisted fast enough. I should’ve peeled back more of the shell sooner.

As long as the chick was able to breathe through the hole, I dont think you needed to do anything more. It just needed more time.
Sorry to hear that it didnt make it

 

[Tonyroo]

Odds are it won't make it based on what you did to it. Sometimes miracles happen.

 

[Hutslark]

Odds are it won't make it based on what you did to it. Sometimes miracles happen.

Ok, so let’s pretend a miracle WILL happen—-do I leave it for a few hours? A day? Do I try to pick more off? It’s literally blinking at me.