Advice on removing hatched chicks...

[misskeeter]

Okay... So I know you aren't supposed to turn eggs during the last three days. I did that with my first hatch ever last year. I also followed the advice of leaving the hatched chicks in until they were all dry. I ended up with several eggs that never hatched, and I assumed it was because they got knocked around so much after the first babies hatched. This year I decided I was going to set up a second incubator and transfer chicks the minute they hatched to keep them from knocking around the others, but I read last night to keep them in...


SO...

Advice: Do I remove them to a second bator set up with the same temp and humidity to keep them from knocking the others around , or do I leave them in and let them just knock away.

I am worried about disturbing and drowning/suffocating chicks who were in the right position then knocked into a bad position. Is this crazy?

 

[thasista]

This is exactly the setup I have. As soon as I see a chick hatched and completely out of the shell, they get moved into a "transitional" incubator. I don't put any humidity in it, but you could I guess just not too high. I let them stay there for about 24 hours, then they get moved to the brooder. This method has worked well for me and I have had less losses of other eggs...

 

[fried green eggs]

I think you should just leave them in. You don't want to let out needed humidity for unhatched eggs. Here is hatching instructions from a wonderful member that shares her wealth of knowledge https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101. Good Luck on your hatch.

 

[misskeeter]

This is exactly the setup I have. As soon as I see a chick hatched and completely out of the shell, they get moved into a "transitional" incubator. I don't put any humidity in it, but you could I guess just not too high. I let them stay there for about 24 hours, then they get moved to the brooder. This method has worked well for me and I have had less losses of other eggs...

See.. that's what I was hoping to avoid, the losses of other eggs due to knocking them around. I know we aren't supposed to turn them during lockdown for a reason, because they can drown or have trouble pipping etc...

 

[misskeeter]

I think you should just leave them in. You don't want to let out needed humidity for unhatched eggs. Here is hatching instructions from a wonderful member that shares her wealth of knowledge https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101. Good Luck on your hatch.

I'll go check that link now.

 

[ChckenBoy13]

Eggs getting knocked around happens a little bit when a hen hatches her eggs naturally so I see no need to worry. I would leave the chicks in there to keep from losing necessary humidity. I usually just leave my chicks in there because, for the first 8 or so hours, the chicks barely move around since they don't have the energy to move around. My hatches have been very successful and I usually don't have a problem with hatches being interrupted by other chicks. In all honesty, though, I prefer letting the hens hatch the eggs the natural way

 

[misskeeter]

Eggs getting knocked around happens a little bit when a hen hatches her eggs naturally so I see no need to worry. I would leave the chicks in there to keep from losing necessary humidity. I usually just leave my chicks in there because, for the first 8 or so hours, the chicks barely move around since they don't have the energy to move around. My hatches have been very successful and I usually don't have a problem with hatches being interrupted by other chicks. In all honesty, though, I prefer letting the hens hatch the eggs the natural way

I'd love for a hen to hatch eggs naturally, but I don't see me getting permission to bring a fully grown hen in to my classroom.

 

[ChckenBoy13]

I'd love for a hen to hatch eggs naturally, but I don't see me getting permission to bring a fully grown hen in to my classroom.

That would be interesting

 

[misskeeter]

That would be interesting

Oh quite interesting I'm sure... and if I could figure out a way to work it, I totally would. LOL

You don't know how much I mean it... I have snakes in the classroom, and I do all sorts of stuff with my students. LOL

 

[FarmGirl01]

This is exactly the setup I have. As soon as I see a chick hatched and completely out of the shell, they get moved into a "transitional" incubator. I don't put any humidity in it, but you could I guess just not too high. I let them stay there for about 24 hours, then they get moved to the brooder. This method has worked well for me and I have had less losses of other eggs...

Very interesting.