To help or not to help?

[dwegg]

Ok so I have a chick in the egg pushing but not getting anywhere. There is a large-ish piece out of the egg but nothing sticking out and has not zipped enough...

should you help? It obviously is ready to come out...how do you do it? or leave it to it's fate?

 

[clairabean]

Sit on your hands.

How long has it been?

 

[debilorrah]

I would wait at least 12 hours. Most say 24, but after 12, I peel away some of the shell so they can finish on their own.

 

[MrsPinkKitty]

Most of the times i have ever helped i wished i didnt..

 

[dwegg]

I got home about 3:45pm and it hasn't progressed since then but has been pushing and peeping....I had one pip when i got home and just hatched so she didn't take very long from pip to hatch... but the other one has not progressed...

great thanks for the support and advice...I'll watch and wait...

 

[terrilhb]

Sit on your hands. Good advice. It can take time. Good luck

 

[usschicago1]

I vote no in all cases of helping a chick out

 

[dwegg]

I'm sorry but I pulled him out of the bator just now...wrapped in a warm wash cloth and used an eye dropper to moisten the membrane. He was still alive to my surprise! It had been 15 hrs now since he did not get any further along. I took off the shell but not the membrane then the top of the egg came off. I put him back in and then he pulled his head out and has unfurled but has not kicked off the remaining egg yet.

he is stretched out and resting now so time will tell but he is alive and the shell is free....thanks for the responses but I couldn't let him just die without trying to help.

 

[dwegg]

He is now fully out and the egg is super clean...I am so happy I he led him...he actually seems as strong as the others and is chirping away... Yay

 

[BHep]

Dwegg...... I know I'll get yelled at for this but..............I would have done the same thing. Just did in fact.

I woke up at 3am this morning, had 1 out and 1 with a pretty big hole. Went back to bed, got up at 5:30am , 1 out, 1 with a pretty big hole, no progress. I took him out and chipped away the shell untill he was able to get out, put him back in the incubator and he is drying off and practicing walking. These are shipped eggs and only 4 went into lockdown, I don't plan on lossing any!

Good job!

p.s. I say "he" because I have a habit of hatching all roosters *sigh*