When do you consider assisting with a hatch?

[chickcrazyNC]

I’m on day 23 now and I have a cream legbar that pipped 24 hours ago. It seemed to be making decent progress but is struggling a bit with the last step. I had the same thing happen to a chick that hatched yesterday and she was extremely sticky at first but is doing well now. I really don’t want to assist the hatch unless it’s necessary, how do I know? I’m concerned that the membrane is starting to dry out and it is only going to get more and more difficult for this chick. My humidity is currently reading 72% but I didn’t calibrate my probe so it’s hard to know for sure. I’ll attach a pic, it’s been basically like this for 2-3 hours. It’s breathing and tries to push out occasionally but doesn’t make a lot of progress.

 

[igorsMistress]

You could moisten the membrane with coconut oil and wait or assist. At this point I would help but I have no patience.

 

[chickcrazyNC]

Yeah, I think it might be time to intervene.

 

[CountryFried]

You could moisten the membrane with coconut oil and wait or assist. At this point I would help but I have no patience.

I'm in the same boat, just posted about my guinea egg. Think I'll go see if I have some coconut oil.

 

[chickcrazyNC]

I put on the coconut oil and waited a few more hours but after a total of 7 hours with no progress I decided to go ahead and assist the hatch. I read several of the related articles on this site before proceeding and was able to successfully get the chick out! There were no active blood veins or yoke left so she was definitely ready. That was last night and this morning she seems to be doing great in the brooder with the others!

 

[chickcrazyNC]

Here she is about an hour after hatch

 

[cmom]

Everyone has given you good advice. When a chick has started to zip and it appears to be struggling I have assisted. I don't use anything with oil. I do take a Q-Tip and moisten with warm water and if there are remaining eggs in the hatcher, I have a mister I use to mist the remaining eggs with warm water which will bring the humidity back up almost immediately. I will be a bit high at first but will go back to normal.

 

[CountryFried]

I put on the coconut oil and waited a few more hours but after a total of 7 hours with no progress I decided to go ahead and assist the hatch. I read several of the related articles on this site before proceeding and was able to successfully get the chick out! There were no active blood veins or yoke left so she was definitely ready. That was last night and this morning she seems to be doing great in the brooder with the others!

Yay!!!! I assisted my guinea, as well, and it’s doing great. Just got home from TSC with 4 Ameracauna brooder mates for him.

 

[chickcrazyNC]

Yay!!!! I assisted my guinea, as well, and it’s doing great. Just got home from TSC with 4 Ameracauna brooder mates for him.

Sounds like a happy ending for both of us! I ended up having to help one more out that started to unzip last night and was never able to finish. I’m not sure what caused it but both are doing well now!

 

[CountryFried]

Sounds like a happy ending for both of us! I ended up having to help one more out that started to unzip last night and was never able to finish. I’m not sure what caused it but both are doing well now!

I’ve read humidity but mine was on the high side so I’m really not sure. I have 100 quail eggs coming in a week, I hope I don’t have to help them. I was terrified LOL