please help quick..hatching

[sassy]

Last night around midnight my chicks started pipping . Around 6am one was hatched. By 3pm, total of 4. At around 5pm the smallest was born and one eye will not open. Should I put some warm water on his eye or what? Three other eggs have been rolling and pipping since this morning and have not hatched. When do I need to help them? Also... when is the hatching "over"? THANKS

[pamspoultry]

A little warm water won't hurt. Alot of people have different views on helping the chicks out. Some say don't. I will help them out once in awhile. But alot of the times they won't make it anyway. I would give them a couple days before I call them all done.

[robin416]

Don't rush helping, give them time. I've helped quite a few out and have never lost any but your timing has to be right. Too soon and you'll kill them, too late and they'll just fade away.

The old belief was that chicks that could not hatch on their own were weak. My belief is that as long as we're artificially incubating them there will be problems from time to time.

[sassy]

Thanks for the advice. I can see their beaks but they look like they are exhausted. I think that they have been at this a pretty long time. They are also all chirping.

[sassy]

one more question, please. How long can they stay trapped in the egg before it hurts them? thanks

[robin416]

Telling you how long depends on far too many things, some of which we can't see because its hidden by the egg itself.

You can try peeling a small section of the egg shell away from the peep hole. If you see blood then stop and put it back.

Depending on where the eggs were in the bator they could have been in a cooler spot that slowed their development a bit from the others that have already hatched.

[sassy]

I broke the end of the one that I heard chriping all night. I was able to find the beak so I know it can breathe. I did see more than usual blood so I put it back. It is still alive but not moving much. Any idea how long it will take for it to absorb the blood? Thanks, everyone.... you are my life line right now. This is really scary.
Also, do I need to wait for the blood to go away before I finish getting it out?

[Evy]

Every time you open the hatcher, you're letting out precious humidity & cooling the eggs. That loss makes the chick dry out & stick to the shell. The best method with chickens is to leave them completely alone.

[robin416]

Leave them alone. Once they've been externally pipped for at least 24 hours and if they are still alive then attempt to get them out. You're pushing it too much. Just walk away and leave them be for a while.