Why can't you just break the egg?

[missychicky]

I have an egg on day 23 and I think I hear tapping so I was thinking the same thing. This was really usefull!

But I have a question- Since I hear tapping i was wondering how long it will be until the chick pips and then hatches, anyone know?

 

[Mahonri]

And then there is another side... for late eggs if I can hear the chick peeping, I sometimes pip it and help.

I've helped at least 6 chicks total this way.

Also in AZ when its 112 and the baby has pipped under a broody, usually they are stressed. I recently helped two out that had pipped and were stuck... got the upper half of the egg off and the chick just fell out and started walking around! No bleeding, no leaking... they were ready.

And to be honest I've also lost two doing the above....

 

[greathorse]

Some help and feel it is a good thing, others simply let it all happen at its own pace. If you are pipping a day late odds are your temp was a bit low, shouldnt really be a problem. I think general wisdom is to be quite certain they need help before you intervene, I have and some times I feel like I did the right thing and other times I think I made a mistake. I am not sure there is a way to know without a lot of experience. I recently had a very good hatch that started over a day late, I have the bator just a tad warmer for this set.

 

[Debbi]

I've got two hatching right now. One has been at it for almost 17 hours, the other for almost 10 hours. The first one is almost done and still chirping loudly! The second one took a nine hour nap in between the first pip and the time she resumed pipping again. It is heart wrenching to watch them struggle, but it is for their own good. I'm worn out just watching them!

 

[Debbi]

WOO-HOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I'm a mama!! First one to pip is out and running around and screaming! She has been bowling with all the other eggs, and is now trying to find her footing. Her loud chirps seem to be stimulating the other one, plus she kicked the thing half way across the bator!

Number two should come before 1am at the rate she's going. Who can sleep now??

 

[Jmurcks]

Way to go on the new chicks! I am a momma now, too as I have a little one this morning. The other egg still hasn't pipped but I hope it will soon!
I now have incubated to hatching 4 in total! I had three in the last batch and they are all doing wonderful and are about 3 months old.
Thanks for all the help!
Jenn

 

[Jarsheart]

I had to help an egg hatch, and it was not easy. There are some videos on You Tube of people helping their eggs hatch. Thank God I watched that video BEFORE I attempted to help, the amount of blood was more than I expected. It is a long process too, (at least for me it was) and I had to zip the egg vertically after I had done the circumference, because she was stuck in the egg. Lost more blood than I imagined she would have, but she made it. She is smaller than her clutch mates, but healthy and active. I hope I never have to "help" again.