A chick hatched early

How long do I leave it in there? I don't expect the others to hatch until at least tomorrow. I know it needs to stay in there until it is dry at least, but should I leave it longer to wait for the other eggs? Would it hurt the other eggs if I took the chick out tonight? This is our first hatch, and this has thrown me for a loop!

I guess that egg was sat on for a day before we brought it in to the incubator?

Truscifi said:

How long do I leave it in there? I don't expect the others to hatch until at least tomorrow. I know it needs to stay in there until it is dry at least, but should I leave it longer to wait for the other eggs? Would it hurt the other eggs if I took the chick out tonight? This is our first hatch, and this has thrown me for a loop!

I guess that egg was sat on for a day before we brought it in to the incubator?

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It's a personal decision. Some leave the chicks in until the end of hatch, some move them when dry and others move them as they hatch and become active. I move mine as they hatch and become active in the bator. No it won't hurt the other eggs to remove it. I will say, a lone chick can be a loud chick so be prepared to hear a lot of yelling until he has someone to keep him company.

It could be a matter of preincubation in the coop or it could just be the egg was in a "hot spot" of the incubator if you aren't rotating them. It could just be it was ready. 21 is a guidline, and if temps are ideal it's usually pretty accurate, but some chicks especially smaller breeds are known to pop out a day or two early.

Well, we have two now. A second one is hatched. They are buff orpingtons. I have some that are mixed breed, but the two that have shown some action are full buffs. I didn't rotate them, just used the egg turner. Should I rotate them as well on my next hatch?

Truscifi said:

Well, we have two now. A second one is hatched. They are buff orpingtons. I have some that are mixed breed, but the two that have shown some action are full buffs. I didn't rotate them, just used the egg turner. Should I rotate them as well on my next hatch?

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That's up to you. I do, because I know I have warm/cool spots in my bator (and I have a fan). I also monitor when I candle and if I have one that looks a little behind I'll move it to the warmer spot. You are using a turner, did the ones that have hatched happen to be in the area closer to the turner's motor? The motors on the turners (for the styro bators anyway) give off excess heat and if you have eggs placed in that area you could easily see excellerated growth.

They were the ones on each end of the middle row. I'm not sure exactly where the motors are. I will rotate them for my next hatch. I'm also getting a second thermometer/hygrometer because the one on my second hand LG styro seems to fluctuate a lot.

I only see pipping on one more egg out of 10 remaining. How long do I give them before I call it done and start a new batch?

Truscifi said:

They were the ones on each end of the middle row. I'm not sure exactly where the motors are. I will rotate them for my next hatch. I'm also getting a second thermometer/hygrometer because the one on my second hand LG styro seems to fluctuate a lot.

I only see pipping on one more egg out of 10 remaining. How long do I give them before I call it done and start a new batch?

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I recommend (at least for new hatchers) give it 24 hours after the last hatcher and then candle and look for signs of life or internal pips. If there is none, tap into the air cell(s) and check for life before moving on to eggtopsies or tossing if you don't do eggtopsies.

I myself if the majority are hatched and there isn't any more pipping, I candle and look for life. I am at a point where I am confident in being able to tell whether a chick is still viable so I usually don't wait an extra 24 hours. I do still tap into the air cell first to double check though and I do eggtopsies on any that didn't hatch. My first hatch (which was a flop and only produced one surviving chick) I didn't do the eggtopsies and I have always regretted it.

Basically it comes down to when you're comfortable with judging what you are seeing (or not seeing.)

The digital LGs are awful for being way off on temps and humidity. Best thing you can do is have your own checked and accurate therms and hygros in them.