When to intervene?

[Kizaura]

Help! When do you intervene in a hatch? I have 2 eggs that have had an external pip for 24 hours now with very little progress. I can see the tip of the beak poking in and out and the hole has gotten a little larger, but not much. All the other eggs have hatched, but they are a different breed so I’m not sure I can really use that to judge. Should I open the incubator or give them more time?

 

[Kizaura]

Here is one of the eggs

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Hello and welcome first off....
What is your temperature and humidity?
Also here is an article on assisted hatching you may find helpful. Read through and then decide if you should assist and if you have questions or just need support, come back and let us know. Also, please keep us posted on the chicks. I hope all goes well!
www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Kizaura]

Thanks, the temp is 38 Celsius and the humidity is 75. I’ve been reading all the assisted hatching guides I could find, most deal with eggs that are not progressing, mine are, just really really slowly. Does breed play into it? Both the eggs that are poky are the same, and both are different from the rest of the group.

 

[Kizaura]

They’re on day 21 now, so they’re not technically late at all but everything I read says after an external pip, something should be happening after 8-12 hours.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Thanks, the temp is 38 Celsius and the humidity is 75. I’ve been reading all the assisted hatching guides I could find, most deal with eggs that are not progressing, mine are, just really really slowly. Does breed play into it? Both the eggs that are poky are the same, and both are different from the rest of the group.

Sometimes breed can play a part. But sometimes it's just a matter of them being tired and unable to finish. If that's the case, you could loose them. As long as there is movement you're probably ok. Often when I've had really slow unzipping I will assist the zip and let the chick push out on it's own. But watch carefully that they aren't stuck.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

They’re on day 21 now, so they’re not technically late at all but everything I read says after an external pip, something should be happening after 8-12 hours.

They may still be absorbing the yolk.
The link I sent discusses this. The article is more about when to assist as well as how.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I will be going out in a couple of hours and may be gone a while..I will call in some others that are very knowledgeable and helpful in case you need it.
@WVduckchick
@Pyxis
@Ravynscroft
@Miss Lydia
Can any or all of you help here?

 

[WVduckchick]

Judging "when" can be tricky. Usually if the beak is good and clear, and the chick stays active, I try to wait it out. Once 24 hours passes, I'm more inclined to at least chip a little shell around the pip, and try to see inside to see what's going on. The membrane could be stuck to the chick, etc. If the chick is squirmy and active when I grab the egg, then helping is less likely. But if the chick is sluggish, I'm more inclined to help a bit more.

 

[Kizaura]

Thanks, It’s been more then 24 hours already, but it’s still pretty active. I’ll try giving it a little more time. I’m trying not to jump the gun and rush in there but man is it hard to judge!