1st ever hatch. I have chicks! A few questions!

[stonykill]

So I set 19 Sumatra eggs on 3-3. Lockdown was monday. Yesterday I already had pips! This morning I have 2 chicks, and more pips! One little guy...or girl I hope, has a feather stuck to an egg. Like it got stuck there when she 1st hatched. Should I free her from the egg? Or will she free herself?
2nd, being these 2 are so early...how long can they stay in the bator? After 24 hours do I take them out? I wasn't expecting hatching to start until tomorrow... THANKS!

 

[latebloomer]

i think i'd let her try to deal with it herself, and not open the incubator

 

[stonykill]

she is already free!

How about the 1st question? The hatch wasn't supposed to start until tomorrow. These 2 could be early birds. And I don't know if they will be ok in there for 48 hours.

 

[latebloomer]

they'll be fine

i've read that the chicks have plenty of yolk to live off for two, and even three days.

try, if you can, to resist the urge to take them out until the others are ready too.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
thanks! If it is best for them, I'll resist.....

 

[latebloomer]

sit on your hands if need be

 

[perolane]

Quote:
What kind of incubator are you using & what's your humidity reading?? I normally hatch around 65% humidity & the hatching itself will raise that percentage. Sometimes too low humidity will cause chicks to "stick". The chick that's stuck..just leave it for now. If it's out of the shell, it'll be ok for a while & may free itself. When you decide to remove the hatched chicks, make sure there are no pips on the eggs before you open the bator.

Bantams sometimes hatch early..it's not a problem. You should leave the chicks in the bator until hatch is finished...they'll be fine for 2-3 days.


Good luck on the rest of the hatch!!