When should I help chicks when they hatch?

[JC87]

Hi all,

This is day 22, and I'm incubating some Cream Legbar eggs. We had one zipping out the morning, but stopped at ~2/3 of the way through. By the time I helped him, the chick was already dead. So can anyone tell me when to help an egg hatch, and is day 22 normal for hatching a cream legbar egg?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I help if a chick has pipped and it isn't progressing. I slowly enlarge the pip hole. If I see blood I stop. I come back later and enlarge the hole a bit more. I like to free their heads so they can breathe at least.

 

[JC87]

In my case, my chick zipped ~2/3 way around, then stopped. Should I help him like ~1 hour after he stops?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can leave him or you can try to help a bit. Every hatch is different. I personally might try to help unless I still see blood, than definitely wait. Sometimes they are still absorbing the yolk. You don't want to step in too soon if that's the case.

 

[JC87]

Oh yes, one more question: What level of humidity should I keep it at when a chick hatches?

 

[Kiraeh]

I think a chick that's started zipping and got stuck is as safe an assist as you can get. You know there's no blood, and they almost always do it in one shot, so if they can't, probably things have gotten a little dry and they need a bit of help. Chicks that just pip, it's harder to tell when they're ready.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh yes, one more question: What level of humidity should I keep it at when a chick hatches?

That I don't know as I use broody hens to hatch.

 

[BrinseaUS]

Oh yes, one more question: What level of humidity should I keep it at when a chick hatches?

You want the humidity around 65% for hatching, and as soon as the chicks start to come out it will naturally go up.

 

[JC87]

Thank you all for helping me!