1st Time Hatching- Advice Please

[ALChickGal]

This is my first hatch using an incubator.My first chick hatched appx. 41 hours ago. Overnight and this morning 12 more have hatched. There are 17 more unhatched-- most have pipped, though. I filled the water trays full at lock down. Appx midnight tonight will be Day 21. The water looks to be getting very low, and I am concerned about that 1st chick. My question is.. Should I leave it in there until they have all hatched?? Or, should I remove the oldest ones today, replenish with some hot water?? It does look as if it may be eating some of the "leftovers" from the other egg shells. Thank you in advance for your help. Blessings!

 

[lazy gardener]

Do you have your brooder set up? Is your humidity up to 65% or more? If your humidity is up, and the brooder is set up, I'd quickly open it up, remove the hatched chicks, scoop the shells out as well, spritz the walls with warm water, or toss in a damp paper towel, add some water to the wells, and close it back up. Just b/c "they say" that chicks can survive "on the absorbed yolk" for 48 hours or so, that doesn't mean that they WON'T benefit from having feed and water sooner! You will want to be sure that if you remove any damp chicks that they don't get chilled. Some hatchers remove damp chicks, b/c they say they dry off faster in a warm brooder. Have you looked at this article? https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[ALChickGal]

The brooder is set up and ready. I just wasn't sure about opening the 'bator. Thanks so much for your advice.

 

[lazy gardener]

Enjoy! Sounds like you're having a real good hatch!!

 

[ALChickGal]

Thank you for the advice! I quickly moved the first 2 chicks and added wet paper towels to keep the humidity high. Since, I moved the others doing the same. I have 24 chicks now and 5 eggs in the 'bator (3 of which have already pipped). I set 31 eggs, so I am super pleased with my first hatching. (I think I'm addicted!) Thanks, again, and blessings!