Chick hatched 6 days early

[Kathy Judson]

I had one egg hatch 8 days early and one 6 days early...is that crazy? I received the eggs from a farm fertilized 4/9 and set the on 4/12...last Tuesday out popped one and Thursday the second one. I turned off the turner on the incubator and turned up the humidity and nothing else has happened. They are actually supposed to hatch on 5/3 so...I am hoping all is well. The incubator is a very nice Brinsea I borrowed from my aunt and I set it all up according to the directions....???

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My guess would be that you did not get FRESH fertilized eggs and that some already had development. Otherwise... it is NOT possible to hatch that early in my experience.

The ones that hatched early are the problem really... not the ones that hatch on time.

I could be wrong though, I am here to learn and do so every day. Maybe your bator has some really warm spots but that isn't my suspicion as to SUCH an early hatch.

 

[lazy gardener]

ES4L is correct. Some of the eggs you received came out of a broody nest. Have you been candling your eggs? You are so close to your intended hatch date that I would go into lock down, and hope you get a good hatch out of the rest of them.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I'd have to agree. The eggs had already been developing. There is no way a chick could survive hatching 8 days early. Check out the link. It's shows development for each day.

If your incubator runs hot you can get successful hatching on day 18-19. But that's the earliest I've ever heard about surviving.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1459/embryonic-development-day-by-day/

 

[Kathy Judson]

Thank you! Well I will see tomorrow - I saw that there were three starting today and tomorrow is the actual hatching day! So...question number 2 - do I put these new babies in with the 8 and 10 day old babies? They already have wings and are feisty!

 

[Kathy Judson]

Looking at the development pictures I see you are correct...I guess that is what happened. I ordered these through the mail and this is the first time hatching eggs. I only candled one - one time - and it was the day before it hatched (the one 8 days early). I was so nervous about handling them and having them out of the heat that I just left them alone. :/

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

What an interesting first hatch! You could order hundreds more eggs and never have that happen again. But in chick raising there is never a dull moment! That's for sure .

Mixing babies will depend on how much room they have. The greatest risk is being stepped on and crushed by bigger chicks. Not harassment/peckng like older birds. There is a slim chance they could pass disease back and forth. Something to be aware of but not overly cautious of. Just watch them when feeding to get a better feel for how they'll do.

 

[Kathy Judson]

Thank you! I think I will start with 2 separate but where they can see each other and then mix them in later just for fun...and I will do it when I can keep a sharp eye! Thank you so much for answering. This has been a wonderful, crazy experience!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you! I think I will start with 2 separate but where they can see each other and then mix them in later just for fun...and I will do it when I can keep a sharp eye! Thank you so much for answering. This has been a wonderful, crazy experience!

Once they are strong enough to not be trampled... 7-8 day is NO big deal and I do it all the time... when they are this young. By the time the littlest ones are reaching 5 days old... or once they have switched to shavings like the bigger ones already are, is when I do it. And all at once.

Once they reach around 4 weeks old... that might not work out as well. So integrating younger is better if you can.

I'm most interested that they were shipped and still survived that far advanced. Like said... never a dull moment!

Congrats on your first (and very unusual) hatch!

Pics welcome!