How Long After Internal Pip Should You Assist

[tanner17567]

Hi there! My distracted Mom brain forgot to write down the date I set the eggs (it was a very last minute decision as they were the last eggs from my favorite hen who left us tragically on Christmas Day). I know I didn’t set them right away, but I don’t remember waiting all that long either. Only one developed and I can hear her chirping now!

So I’m somewhere between Day 22-24 at my best guess. I’ve candled her and marked the air cell, and I believe she’s internally pipped, but I’m getting a little nervous! I am emotionally invested in this sole egg, and I think that’s why I’m having a hard time waiting.

I first heard chirping on Monday, morning, around 7 am and saw the egg rock back and forth a few times. Waited until that evening and candled her. I saw what appears to be the shadow of her beak and some feathers in the air sack, so I think she’d internally pipped at that time.

But now it’s Tuesday night and there’s no progression. No sign of an external pip, but she did chirp when I picked up the egg to check on her. She’s breathing just fine, but at this point should I give her an external pip?

To recap, it’s been 38 hours since I heard chirping and saw egg rocking, and about 24 hours since I’m pretty sure I saw her internally pipped.

 

[Pyxis]

When you candled, did you see a moving triangular shadow in the air cell? Like this:

If so, then yes it's internally pipped, and if it has been 24 hours since the internal pip, I would go ahead with a safety hole.

 

[tanner17567]

Yes! I definitely saw that. If I give her an air hole tonight will she be ok until the morning? Abc should I do anything humidity wise? It’s a consistent 54% in there.

When you candled, did you see a moving triangular shadow in the air cell? Like this:

If so, then yes it's internally pipped, and if it has been 24 hours since the internal pip, I would go ahead with a safety hole.

 

[Pyxis]

Yep, with a safety hole she should be fine until morning for sure. If she hasn't started to progress on her own 24 hours from the safety hole that's when I personally would start assisting further.

Humidity should be a little higher, around 65% if you can get it there.

 

[tanner17567]

 

[tanner17567]

Just gave her a small hole. She’s chirping and I can see her beak right there.

 

[Pyxis]

Excellent! And just in case you do need to assist further, this article should help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Lil Peeps]

Looks good, I'd bump up the humidity to 60-70% now and leave her in a closed incubator and let her have some time to make progress. Prayers for her to make it out quickly and all right!

 

[tanner17567]

So, update this morning. Chick has not progressed at all and I simply cannot get the humidity higher than 56%.

It’s in my basement so I’m going to bring it upstairs to a room that may have a higher natural humidity level to see if that works.

She’s still breathing in there, but I don’t want her to dry out. What would you suggest I do? Should I try to wet her at all? How long do I wait before further assisting?

Thanks for everything so far!!!

 

[tanner17567]

I just couldn’t wait. I felt pretty strongly that something was up, so I removed just a little more and found her lil foot! I think this is a malposition, right? So it was a good thing for me to help?

All blood vessels have receded and she looks good otherwise. Talking up a storm!