When should you help a chick?

[mustangsaguaro]

I have 4 out fo 5 chicks that have hatched (broody Silkie sat on the eggs). This last chick I can hear pipping and chirping inside the egg but chick has yet to pip the egg. At what point and time should I start worrying and make a small air hole for the chick. I would hate to see it suffocate in the egg. Also, the other 4 chicks apppear to be doing fine so am a little worried my Silkie might give up sitting on this egg as soon as these chicks that are hatched are moving about more. 3 of the chicks are about a day-day and a half old, while the other one is only at my guess 12 hours old if that.

Thanks
Kim

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Give it some more time, its to early to panik. Sounds like mama hen has things under control. Just watch her just to make sure she doesn't leave the nest. Good luck!

 

[bock]

You should help it after 48 hous.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Please don't take this wrong as it sounds cruel but it will help your flock in the long run. We don't help period. If the chick, poult whatever can't make it out of the shell or is "unthrifthy" it's a cull. The first to hatch are the strongest, by helping the weak ones it's weakening the whole flock over time. It's your choice to help or not and if you must then by all means do so - I just wanted to point out the other side of the coin.

Steve in NC

 

[CindyS]

Usually chicks under a broody all hatch within 12 hrs of each other. Is it possible this egg was laid a few days later than the others I think its just a day or so behind. Your main problem will be keeping the broody on the nest until it hatches. Can you put the other chicks in a brooder for a day or so until it hatches?