I've hatched over 500 babies (chicks, ducks, turkeys & quail) just in the past 6 months. I run 4 bators all summer in staggered hatches. Sometimes it's better to remove babies before dry but I try to at least let them dry most of the way & remove them in groups to avoid opening the bator too...
The 24 hour "hands off" theory is absolutely wrong. I have pulled chicks out minutes after hatch, still wet, & plopped them in the brooder to finish drying to avoid games of egg football when running staggered hatches (which I do quite often). They do just fine & even usually start eating &...
Chicks feed off of the yolk for 24-48 hours after hatch. Leave hatched babies in until completely dry when possible. If you have really late hatchers or all pipped eggs have finished hatching you can quickly reach in & pull out dry chicks who are over the 24 hour mark. Only open the bator as far...