Will they pip and make a hole, but not zip??

[Valoradia]

I would not open the incubator at all. That quick blast of air will destroy your hatch for certain. It is always best to wait at least 24 hours from the time of pip, however I don't recommend helping at all. Good luck..I hope your chick hatches soon for you.

Jody

that is not true at all. I remember back in the day we would incubate eggs in a box with a light hanging over it..just a bowl and sponge in the box for humidity..and the eggs were on a thick folded towel. we would mist the towel occassionally for extra humidity, but it never had a lid or anything over it..and hatched dozens and dozens of eggs that way.

 

[Windus]

that is not true at all. I remember back in the day we would incubate eggs in a box with a light hanging over it..just a bowl and sponge in the box for humidity..and the eggs were on a thick folded towel. we would mist the towel occassionally for extra humidity, but it never had a lid or anything over it..and hatched dozens and dozens of eggs that way.

Yes, but your eggs had been like that all the time so there was no sudden drop in humidity. If you have an incubator with high humidity inside and you open it, the plunge in humidity can have ill effects on the chicks still hatching.