When to do Safety Hole???

[sean_wonder]

I have a chick who internally pipped but no idea when she pipped. She was chirping quite a lot, took a nap, then chirped less. I can still hear her scratching, but she’s been internally pipped for at least 6 hours now with no external progress. Is it okay if I make a safety hole?

 

[sean_wonder]

I have a clean needle I can use

 

[FortCluck]

I would let the chick do its own thing. It can take over 24 hours from internal pip to external pip. Chicks can stay internally pipped for days with zero issues. The shell is porous enough for them to breathe and there is sufficient air in the egg for them. Handling the egg more than necessary can cause other problems.

 

[sean_wonder]

Alright, thank you

 

[sean_wonder]

Also the hens have turned their eggs since I last checked, aren’t they not supposed to? I’ve been very careful not to flip them or change their position when listening but they’ve been turned for sure.