My first egg just pipped an I'm only on day 19, but the pip was on the under part of the shell' where it couldn't breathe! I'm so
Nervous. I don't think its alive..I put it right side up where the pip was... Any ideas? Im freaking out...
Leave it ALONE. That chick may be ready to pip but not ready to hatch. It may take a day or more to complete the zipping process. The more you "help" the more you'll grow to wish you hadn't. Good luck and be patient.
Be calm. If it's meant to be it will be. Can you see the beak? I have had chicks pip and hatch as early as day 18. If you can't see the beak and think it may have expired it isn't going to hurt to check it out. I would carefully peal the shell without tearing the membrane around the line the chick would normally zip. Is there a hole where the chick has penetrated the membrane? Also there are two membranes an outer membrane which usually look white and an inner clear membrane where the blood vessels are. You could pick the shell on both sides of the pip and see if you can see the beak and moisten the membrane with warm water with either your fingertip or a Q-tip. If you see the beak and the chick is alive then put it back into the incubator to let it hatch itself. I usually wait at least 24 hrs from pip before helping the chick zip and if it is stuck then I may help it hatch. You have to be very careful as the blood vessels may still be in tact and not dried enough and the chick can bleed to death. Good luck...
Hey all!! First baby hatched today and is doing good. Only day 19 though! This is such a relief. She had a hard time coming out. Thanks for the help. Posting pics tonight!