Ugh....Someone Help. Tell me what to do!

[WhoaNellie]

Today has been a really crappy hatching day.

I had an egg pip at 1130 am. Had another pip at 1230 pm.
The 1130 egg was zipping most of the day and when I checked it at 715, it wasn't moving at all. No breathing, No chirping, Nothing.
To top it off, I'm pretty sure it's my fault. In my infinite newbie wisdom, I pulled the chick who hatched last night because it was rolling eggs everywhere and it's head kept coming millimeters from the heating element. Then to top off my intelligence, I decided to put all the remaining eggs on their sides over the top of an egg carton. My thought process on this was that it would keep them in the same position they'd be in since lockdown but keep them from being crashed all over the incubator by the next hatched chick. So...........I think the 1130 egg just kind of collapsed on itself and couldn't break free.

The 1230 egg was pipped for-freakin-ever before it started to zip. The humidity has been between 60-65% all day. When it finally started to zip I noticed that the membrane wasn't breaking through as neatly as last night's hatch. And I sat for over an hour and watched it. I didn't move. The chick was active, peeping, etc. I decided to take 30 minutes and watch tv and decided that if it hadn't made progress, I'd add a little warm water thru the near-by vent hole. Well literally TWO COMMERICAL BREAKS later, I went to check and there is nothing. No movement, no chirping, no breathing (from what I can see). I seriously want to throw up right now. I added a little warm water, but I'm still not seeing any activity.

I still have 11 more eggs that I'm waiting on. What do I do? I have two dead chicks in the incubator. I can't just leave them, hoping for the others to hatch, can I? Ugh....I don't want to for sure.

Please someone help me!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Yes, leave them. If the humidity is where you say, the others will most likely hatch. And chicks hatch around dead chicks. Don't open the incubator again though. It really screws up the hatching. Dries the membrane out and even if one tiny piece gets stuck the chicks have a hard time getting out.

 

[WhoaNellie]

Okay. I won't.
Thank you.

 

[AngieChick]

Personally, if any other eggs are pipped I would just sit on my hands and wait, unless the carton lid really seems to be creating major issues. I have had eggs rolled around by hatched chicks before, and it's never presented any issues, so don't fret about that.

Is your humidity gauge correct? It sounds like there could be an issue there? To be honest, the chick should not have expired that quickly after zipping unless there were other issues.

It can take 24 hours from pip to zip, so don't be too freaked out if it takes a while. Also, it can be hard to see whether or not they are breathing when they are mid-zip. Sometimes they take long breaks and are very very still.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Yep that is true, they take a long time. Maybe they are dead, but then again maybe not. Mine on average take 12 hours from pip to zip and out.

They have to stop and rest and stop the blood veins from bleeding out. They know what to do and do it. One suggestion, however you incubate the eggs, I think they should be hatched that way. It you incubate them on their side, hatch them on their side. If you incubate in the turners, then egg cartons is a good idea to hatch in.

I don't know if anyone else has experience with this, but mine just do better when I hatch them in the same position as I incubate.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

I'm sorry. I wouldn't add any more water. It kinda sounds like they are just resting, it can take up to 24 hrs for them to get out. I am sorry this is happening to you. Stay positive, and I think we all go through this at the beginning. Good luck I hope they start poping out soon!

 

[Penturner]

Just like a woman having a baby, it is not a nice neat start to finish steady progression. it starts it stops it starts again then slows down. but it will happen in it's time and in it's way. I will add something I noticed specifically today. Opening the incubator during lock down is bad for two reasons. one it drops humidity, and two it can chill the chicks sapping their energy. But even with that it is even worse to open the incubator after they have pipped. moisture removed from the membrane does not necessarily go back as easily as it left. Just some bits of info that may help guide your decisions.