A chick finally hatched! Now What??

[cindywolkens 72]

I have a question...I went to take my eggs out of the egg Turner to discover I've had 2 chicks hatch. I took the rest of the eggs out of the Turner and laid them in the incubator. There are 5 more eggs that have started to hatch. Should I put them back in the egg Turner or will they be ok?

 

[Monkeybean415]

I have a question...I went to take my eggs out of the egg Turner to discover I've had 2 chicks hatch. I took the rest of the eggs out of the Turner and laid them in the incubator. There are 5 more eggs that have started to hatch. Should I put them back in the egg Turner or will they be ok?

Don't put them back in the egg turner. They should just be incubating now they don't need to be turned at the end.

For future reference- you should take it out on day 18 and turn the humidity up and leave it alone until hatch.

Congrats on your new chicks!

 

[cindywolkens 72]

Ok I thought they'd be ok. Today is day 19. I didn't have time yesterday to take them out of the egg turner. I was so excited I had any hatch I just took them all out. I didn't know if it would disturb the others that have started to hatch or not. Thanks for the help!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Quote: Only first generation sex-links can be determined at birth. If the hens who laid the eggs are sex-links then the chicks will not be easily identifiable.

 

[cindywolkens 72]

Well so far 5 have hatched and 3 more have little holes and you can see them inside working hard on hatching! Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[cindywolkens 72]

Here's an update for everyone. 6 chicks hatched all together. 4 others started to hatch but for whatever reason died. The 6 are eating, drinking and pooping like crazy! Lol. A friend of mine decided I need more chicks and bought me 25 from our local feed store! Yay! Today while doing big chicken chores I heard peeps from under my hen that went broody and low and behold 4 more babies! That brings me to a grand total of 39! Omg! I have 2 coops and mom and 4 babies are in one by themselves and the other 3 big chicken free range during the day and perch with the horses at night. Can I put the 6 chicks I hatched and the 25 my friend bought all together in one coop with mom and her 4? I don't know what to do with them all!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

It depends on if mom will accept them all. She may not; either all or some of them. Be prepared to take over if she won't. My question is do you have enough coop space to support so many chickens? That would require a LOT of room.

 

[cindywolkens 72]

I built a temporary little coop for the house to keep them inside for now. I'll introduce them this weekend. And yes, I have a very large coop for all of them. But I am prepared if she doesn't accept them. She's fine with mein there and messing with her chicks. So let's hope she'll take them.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

They younger the chicks, the more likely she will accept them. The longer you wait, the less.

 

[cindywolkens 72]

Ok thank you. I'll do it in the morning!