Unzipped but not emerging from egg

[Otter22]

I had this happen in my last button quail egg hatch. And have it happening again this morning. incubator temp is 99.5 and the wet bulb reading is about 86 witch would be
about 60 percent humidity. The chick has unzipped all the way around but is not emerging from the shell it has been at least 3 hours now this way. I can here the little one chirping and see his beak poking out in the same spot over and over. I am thinking it might be shrink wrapped and just not able to get out. I know we are not supposed to help them out of the shell but feel so bad with the little guy stuck in there.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

John

 

[thebirdguy]

I would take a look at the membrane.. if it is still wet then give it a little more time.. if it is dry, you can very carefully pick off very small bits at a time... if you see any blood, stop and put back in the bator... The more they do on their own, the better.. Sometimes mother nature needs a little help though... just be ready to accept whatever happens regardless of what you do and don't second guess yourself after the fact...

 

[Tuffoldhen]

It can take upto 24 hours for the chick to zip out of an egg on their own.

 

[Rozzie]

Quote:
Quail usually zip faster than chicken chicks. Unlike chicken chicks, they can't go days without food and water. They need to be eating and drinking pretty quickly after they absorb their yolk sack.

If the quail has zipped but not gotten out of the shell, I'd interfere after a few hours. However, I know others here will say that if they don't make it on their own they weren't meant to be...


Has your little chick zipped a line all the way around, but not pushed the top of the shell off? I wouldn't be worried after three hours, providing there is enough of the shell moved for it to get oxygen. I'd definitely be worried by bedtime, though.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Are you SURE it's not out? I had that happen once, kept watching this zipped egg to see the baby come out, only to do a chick count and realize it already was

Buttons usually pop out pretty fast and they like to 'close the door' behind themselves, just be sure that it's not out already. You might need to pop the top off for it.

 

[mrslb333]

I'd pop the lid off. I have a rule never to help Buttons hatch as they always die on me but if they are in the same stage as yours they usually do just fine.