Urgent! Should I help?

[Stephanie8806]

Hey there! I’m brooding eggs under a hen for the first time, and it’s been really successful so far, apart from the fact that these chicks are hatching in the 23-25 day range.

My 5th one is ready to hatch, it pipped internally yesterday, and today I could hear it peeping any rattling around in the shell… but no external pip yet! Should I help get it started?? Let me know please!

 

[SilverBirds]

No need to help! Unless he has not externally pipped 24 hours after internally piping he shouldn't need assistance. Good luck with the hatch!

 

[Stephanie8806]

No need to help! Unless he has not externally pipped 24 hours after internally piping he shouldn't need assistance. Good luck with the hatch!

Thank you!! I initially had 6 under her, and this will be number 5 of 6! With candling, the last one looks like it’s still a day or two out, but when I tapped the shell, I saw obvious chick wiggling. So we might go 6 for 6! I also had 3 in my incubator on day 17 that are all still viable, but the power went out today so I stuck those under her too. She’s sitting like a champ, and a very sweet, docile, determined mama bird. Hoping to finish the other 3 under her, but keeping the incubator running just in case she decides she’s done sitting

 

[rjmyooper]

Sitting on my couch saying Yes, Yes, Yes. Then I read @SilverBirds reply and I'm like No, No, No.
Not even my Chicks but I hope they can feel me cheering them on.
Good Luck!

 

[Stephanie8806]

Sitting on my couch saying Yes, Yes, Yes. Then I read @SilverBirds reply and I'm like No, No, No.
Not even my Chicks but I hope they can feel me cheering them on.
Good Luck!

Thank you!! If it hasn’t hatched by tomorrow morning, I will help. I’m not 100% sure if it pipped internally last night or this morning, so I’m going with when I knew for certain(this morning, with the wiggles and chirps). Last night it may not have pipped all the way

 

[SilverBirds]

Hopefully he hatches okay and you don't need to assist! Here is an article just incase you do though. Article 'Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry'

 

[Stephanie8806]

Hopefully he hatches okay and you don't need to assist! Here is an article just incase you do though. Article 'Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry'

Thank you! I hope so too. I told myself I would never intervene, I believe nature should run it’s course… natural selection and all that. But now that there’s a LIVE chick tapping around and chirping, I don’t think I can bring myself to let it die in there