Chicks are hatching!! HELP

[Cowgirlchickie]

It's day 22 and I have one chick hatched in incubator. He piped last night at about 10:30 and hatched this morning. He's still wet and stumbly. How long should I leave him in there? None of the other eggs have piped yet but they we're put in a day later than this one. Should I open the air holes?? I just need some advice/help since this is my first time!

 

[happyhens1972]

The air vents should be open anyway...the eggs need to breathe as well as the chick. If your humidity starts to drop when you open the vents, add more water.

The chick will be fine in the incy for anything up to 72 hours....it doesn't need food or water as it has a belly full of yolk but I tend to grab mine out when they are dry and fluffy. A lot of it will depend on what is happening with your other eggs by the time this one is dry....if they have pipped, the drop in humidity when you take the chick out may cause membranes to dry out, complicating your hatch but if you think you can be quick and not lose too much moisture then whip it out quickly....but only when it's dry.

 

[tantricdragon13]

I would usually leave the chicks in the incubator until they were good and dry - so anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, though as happyhens1972 said they are good up to three days. I also kept air holes open during the entire incubation. Keep an eye on your humidity and you should be good!

Good luck!

 

[Cowgirlchickie]

Thank you guys!! This helped a lot!

 

[Cowgirlchickie]

NOTHER QUESTION!! I still have 4 eggs in the incubator. I hear cheeping but I see no hole or crack in any of the eggs? When the first chick hatched while he was in there he kinda knocked around the other eggs. Is this okay? Will it affect the hatching of the other eggs? Is there anything I can do? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[happyhens1972]

It is normal for the chicks to peep before pipping so don't worry and don't worry about the eggs being knocked either, that is common too.

Had any progression yet?

 

[Cowgirlchickie]

It is normal for the chicks to peep before pipping so don't worry and don't worry about the eggs being knocked either, that is common too.

Had any progression yet?

Oh good, thank you so much!! I was starting to worry
And no progression yet. Still cheeping every once in awhile. But it hasn't been that long can't wait for more to hatch!!

 

[Cowgirlchickie]

It is normal for the chicks to peep before pipping so don't worry and don't worry about the eggs being knocked either, that is common too.

Had any progression yet?

Oh, and how long usually until the peeping chick will hatch??

 

[happyhens1972]

It can be 24 hours or more before they externally pip, then another 24 or more before zipping

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Another very good reason not to open the incubator and remove just hatched chicks is that the cheeping from the already piped/hatched birds encourage the rest of the clutch to try harder to join their already hatched brothers and sisters.