Zipped but not hatching - over 24 hours

[Rainbowegglover]

Is this normal? I had 9 very healthy black copper maran and aracuana chicks hatch on day 20/21 and these eggs have been zipped but not hatching for past day. They are alive as I can see inside. Some were knocked around by the hatched chicks. I moved them around after removing the chicks as it was getting too crowded and one was stuck on the lining so I’m wondering if this is the case of the chick not able to regain position to hatch? And I know assisted hatching is controversial but is this something that might be needed?

 

[Compost King]

Every time I open my incubator before all my pipped eggs made it out of their shell I have had to hand hatch them due to the membrane sticking to them. when I hand hatch them I break the shell open then put it back together (if possible) and put it back in. Make them go through the motions of breaking out of the egg. Then after that I have to clean shell/membrane from their wings and legs so their limbs are mobile. Shell and membrane stuck the body I leave along unless some type of problem comes up with it.

 

[Mvan42]

As long as they are alive and you can see their beaks and they are breathing and not historical I would wait. It takes a lot of energy to hatch, they could be taking a break. Also they could take longer than day 21 to hatch, that is just a reference on when they will hatch.

I don't see the beak on the one in the pic. if they seem to be in trouble what I do to help is take a pair of tweezers and just finish zipping for them and remove the top shell. This lets them push out of the shell on their own when they are ready.

 

[Rainbowegglover]

it’s night time here in Oz so I’ll leave them overnight and make executive decision . They are definitely breathing but the one whose beak you cannot see is definitely some sort of stuck. I had to remove the other 9 chicks as it was getting so crowded and one had been hatched for couple of days. I’ve had one hatch since opening incubator and just waiting for these ones... argggg what to dooooooo

 

[Compost King]

it’s night time here in Oz so I’ll leave them overnight and make executive decision . They are definitely breathing but the one whose beak you cannot see is definitely some sort of stuck. I had to remove the other 9 chicks as it was getting so crowded and one had been hatched for couple of days. I’ve had one hatch since opening incubator and just waiting for these ones... argggg what to dooooooo

That happens to me too. Last hatch I learned how yolk size determines how soon or late they hatch. I had one batch of eggs with a tiny yolk and another batch with a giant yolk. The Tiny Yolked birds hatched 2 and a half days early, the ones with the giant yolks 2 hatched late on day 21 and the eggtapsy on the remaining showed they still had quite a bit of yolk left and were still alive. Unfortunately I was unable to keep them alive. It can get tricky sometimes.

 

[casportpony]

it’s night time here in Oz so I’ll leave them overnight and make executive decision . They are definitely breathing but the one whose beak you cannot see is definitely some sort of stuck. I had to remove the other 9 chicks as it was getting so crowded and one had been hatched for couple of days. I’ve had one hatch since opening incubator and just waiting for these ones... argggg what to dooooooo

If they were my eggs I would assist. have you read this article by @Pyxis?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[WVduckchick]

Once they start a full zip, as those appear to have done, I pop the air cell end off. Zipping should typically take less than 90 minutes from start to finish. I used to hatch lavender orpingtons that were bad about partial zips and quitting before finishing. By the time they start to zip, they should be ready to come out, so I help them finish.

I believe I had a few BCMs do the same, but I didn’t wait to see if they would finish on their own. I popped the cap off.

 

[Compost King]

If I had a larger bathroom I would put my incubator in the bathroom so if I had to open up for any reason I could steam the room up and not have all those issues created by opening the Incubator before all of the birds have hatched.

 

[Rainbowegglover]

Sooooo I ran downstairs this morning and behold! Still in their shells. They definitely looked ready so I peeled all three of them. No remaining blood on membranes, no yolk so definitely were ready. I do think they got stuck as some of their exposed bit was almost glued together by a sticky substance that dried hard (yellow jelly like thing) preventing movement. Anyone know what that is? Now I’m worried about dehydration cos unsure if they need water now... I’ll leave them until tonight. They are still on their backs chirping away. I peeled the whole egg as that was extend to how much they were stuck

 

[casportpony]

Glad you got them out!