2 out early? will they be okay?

[Momma_mia]

Hi, my daughter and I are incubating Plymouth Rock eggs for my mother-in-law. It's our first time incubating eggs. We have an old incubator (round and metal). You need to open it to pour water in the dish. My mother-in-law has had super hatches using this old incubator. I've just had two chicks hatch early though, by two days. They look great. The temperature appeared just right throughout the incubation. I would be surprised if the temp was too high - even had two thermometers going. Do you think my opening and closing the lid to refill the water tray caused the early hatch? Will these early birds be okay? This is my first time on the forum. Awesome site. Thanks!

 

[jamesrm]

Opening and closing the lid would generally only delay a hatch, but there are so many variables its hard to say what really make them the early birds. They can go a few days without food and water, just be sure they are very dry before removing them from the incubator, most recommend 24 hours before removal.

Congrats on the peeps!