woud you help?

[mamahen82]

I hatched out 15 chicks on Sat and Sun early morning, 13 very healthy and happy. This was days 22 and 23

There are still a few eggs left. Two have been pipped for well over 24 hours. I can occasionally see the beaks breathing but there is very little peeping or movement. Two more eggs pipped late yesterday afternoon. One took all night to zip, just hatched this morning and died as soon as it hatched. No yolk sac or anything attached. The other pip has not progressed at all since yesterday afternoon. I had two other pips that never made it any further.

My question - here I am on day 25. Do I help the 3 pips, or at least the two that have been over 24 hours now with no progression or peeping? I am suspicious that even i I do manage to hatch them that they will have issues, being so late, and pipped for so long.

Otherwise do I just leave them and see what happens? I feel so bad for the little things, struggling so much, so close to the finish, but am pessimistic that things will be ok for them either way,

PS - I had alot of temperature and humidity issues throughout incubation, so am not surprised to have these late hatchers/weaklings. I am quite surprised that I got 13 healthy chicks actually!

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Yes. Zip slowly with a moist warm rag to keep wet.

 

[bakerjw]

I am a proponent of helping a struggling chick. That said, they don't always make it because they had other problems. However the chance that I could add an extra hen as a layer gives me incentive to help them out.

As mentioned. Pick the shell away while using warm water and a qtip to wet the membrane and GO SLOWLY... I have had chicks tear loose and not make it because the membrane was too dry and they bled quite a bit. I've had others just pop out on their own.

 

[mstrawn3]

Watch the membrane as you zip. If there is any fresh blood as you tear through, stop and give another hour or two before continuing...

 

[babymakes6]

I would-I use a warm paper towel to hold them with and a Q-tip and tweezers to get them out. That's me though. I feel like I am the one who caused the problem, so I want to give them what I can to make it right. Good luck!

 

[mamahen82]

thanks everyone - I think I am the one that caused the problem, with two of them anyways. I helped them and two were dead

. The other hatched in my hand and I quickly have returned it to the incubator to see if it will make it.

Sigh. Next time....better incubator. And no opening the lid no matter how long the others have already been hatched....