PLEASE HELP! Chick Pushing Against Membrane: Help Or Wait?

[HenniesInMyHeart]

I have made external pip holes for my silkie chicks because I keep losing babies at the end and just figured out because I am at high altitude, they don't get enough air in lockdown! I made holes in the top of the shells because I don't want to lose these babies. My question is this: If my baby is pushing up and down with his/her beak, trying to break through the internal membrane, should I pierce it and help, or leave it for the baby to keep trying? I had to oil the membranes because they were white, but they are soft again now and veins are still full. I know until they take their first breath, that circulation is critical, but can I make an opening where the chick's beak is, where it will not hit a vein? It would be safe to make a pinprick hole to help the chick. I seem to remember somewhere, though, that if the internal membrane opens, that stimulates the chick to hatch out too soon? Has anyone helped an internal pip and been okay? I am drowning in all my possible scenarios here! Thoughts?

 

[Rose Quartz]

I have made external pip holes for my silkie chicks because I keep losing babies at the end and just figured out because I am at high altitude, they don't get enough air in lockdown! I made holes in the top of the shells because I don't want to lose these babies. My question is this: If my baby is pushing up and down with his/her beak, trying to break through the internal membrane, should I pierce it and help, or leave it for the baby to keep trying? I had to oil the membranes because they were white, but they are soft again now and veins are still full. I know until they take their first breath, that circulation is critical, but can I make an opening where the chick's beak is, where it will not hit a vein? It would be safe to make a pinprick hole to help the chick. I seem to remember somewhere, though, that if the internal membrane opens, that stimulates the chick to hatch out too soon? Has anyone helped an internal pip and been okay? I am drowning in all my possible scenarios here! Thoughts?

I've never assisted with an internal pip. the chick will come when it's good and ready the main reason they would come early from the inner membrane being messed with is if the integrity is compromised, and they could push them selves free.

if you thing the membrane might be too tough for it to get through because it's dryer than it should be you can assist where the chicks beak is. be careful you don't hurt it the chick. as long as you avoid the veins it'll be fine. I've had malpositioned chicks pip through a vein before, and come out fine. so a little bleeding is ok not preferred but ok.

what day are they on? I would have waited until they made an internal pip before making an external one. that is if I could see in the shell with candling, obviously with some eggs that's not always possible. hope you get some little fluff balls soon.

 

[Spartan22]

50/50 chance! It can go either way, couple of weeks ago the last egg to hatch pipped internally and stuck with it for over 14 hours. I decided to slit the membrane with a small surgical scissor just for the beak to protrude and returned it back to the incubator to finish zipping, 6 hours later I’ve noticed that the membrane actually were drying out fast and was afraid the chick was getting shrink wrap.

I took the egg out again and damp the membrane with warm water, and proceeded to feel off bits of eggshells and exposed more of the membrane and tried to exposed the beak and head avoiding the veins on the membrane. I couldn’t find the beak since it was under the wing and it was trying to pipped and zip but keep on hitting the the wing bone, after I exposed the beak and head from the membrane I placed it back to the incubator and let it zip on its own which took another 3-4 hours since it was exhausted but it pull though and was a healthy beautiful Black Copper Marans Chick.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

All have passed but 1. They just can't get enough air to finish the hatch, or are malpositioned. The one baby is going strong! Peeping, moving beak to absorb yolk sac, and taking good deep breaths! Now it's a watch, wait, oil the membrane, watch and wait some more...I REFUSE TO LOSE THIS ONE! Supplementing oxygen in the incubator, too...it's a little ICU now! It's gonna be a long night, but this precious little fighter is 100% worth it! Please pray for him/her!

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Update: So far, so good! We're not out of the woods, but this little one is stable and strong!

 

[Rose Quartz]

Update: So far, so good! We're not out of the woods, but this little one is stable and strong!

you should try to get some sleep. this chick is still a few hours (at least 3 probably more) from being ready to get out. you'll need some sleep to make good calls when it is time to help.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Aww thank you angel! Well, it's been nearly 3 hours since I filmed that! S/he's cheeping away in the incubator, but the membrane vasculature hasn't yet receded. I think it will be a while yet, but we're getting closer! I don't dare sleep...I made that mistake this morning and lost my 3 other silkies.
This one is getting the intense monitoring treatment!

 

[Rose Quartz]

Aww thank you angel! Well, it's been nearly 3 hours since I filmed that! S/he's cheeping away in the incubator, but the membrane vasculature hasn't yet receded. I think it will be a while yet, but we're getting closer! I don't dare sleep...I made that mistake this morning and lost my 3 other silkies.
This one is getting the intense monitoring treatment!

it sucks when they get to the end and there's trouble. I know the feeling, watched a few in the last few years get right to the hatch day and just slowly fade away. I'm glad I don't have high altitude to deal with too.

one thing to keep in mind: once the blood veins recede from the air cell area, that doesn't mean it's ready. there are a lot more in the pointy end and they're bigger. once they are mostly clear in the air cell area it's still going to be 3-6 hours before the rest is gone. if you feel it's time to take off more shell, be careful and go slow. ANY blood and you stop.

I've gotta go. I'll check back in tomorrow...... (it's 4AM ) wish I could stay up with you. but I can't.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

it sucks when they get to the end and there's trouble. I know the feeling, watched a few in the last few years get right to the hatch day and just slowly fade away. I'm glad I don't have high altitude to deal with too.

one thing to keep in mind: once the blood veins recede from the air cell area, that doesn't mean it's ready. there are a lot more in the pointy end and they're bigger. once they are mostly clear in the air cell area it's still going to be 3-6 hours before the rest is gone. if you feel it's time to take off more shell, be careful and go slow. ANY blood and you stop.

I've gotta go. I'll check back in tomorrow...... (it's 4AM ) wish I could stay up with you. but I can't.

Awww you are so sweet. It's only 1:30AM here, I know it's gonna be a while; I am not going to assist anymore until the baby makes overt hatching moves. As long as s/he can breathe and the membrane doesn't shrink-wrap them, I am just observing. I just can't sleep, even though I know it's probably gonna be hours yet.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Update: Baby is doing well! Still not hatched, but has one toe out and head out! I had to peel back some membrane but I really am excited for this little one! I think the prognosis is very good! I just wish I could tell if they finished absorbing their yolk sac before assisting further!