chicks/eggs in the bator

[squeak1387]

I have some chicks that have already popped out still in with eggs trying to hatch. Is this ok? Will the chicks moving around and bumping the other eggs stop them from hatching? At what point do I take out the chicks and put them in the brooder?

 

[Steph Martin]

Hi....congrats....I've just gone through the same thing four days ago. I was using a hovabator (styrofoam box kind of thing) which had about 21 eggs and is about 1.5 x 1.5'. I left the first couple who hatched out in there for about four hours but they weren't drying off well because of the humidity so on the advice of a friend I set up my heat lamp and moved them to the brooder. After that I left each bird to hatch out in there to kind of catch its breath (about 1 to 2 hours) and then moved them to the brooder. They won't hurt each other and they really shouldn't be able to hurt any of the eggs left to hatch. I would assume that the people who design these incubators should take these things into consideration. I'd move them after a while....mine worked out and are going strong. Good luck. Let us know.

 

[squeak1387]

Anyone else have any opinions on this one?

 

[SadieSue]

I've only just had my first eggs hatch this past weekend, but my understanding is that the chicks absorb the yolk just before hatching so have enough nourishment to stay in the incubator for up to 48 hours afterwards and that it's best to leave the chicks in until completely dry and most eggs have hatched. Opening the incubator before then risks losing crucial humidity that could hamper with the remaining eggs hatching. Also, the jostling around that the eggs get from the chicks doesn't bother them. Instead, the bumping and peeping of the chicks may just give the unhatched more incentive to hatch - they hear the others and are prompted to come out and play! However, as I said, I'm no expert. Just a newbie who has hatched 6 out of 9 eggs in my Brinsea this past weekend.
Good luck with your hatch!

 

[squeak1387]

So far I have hatched 6 out of 18 quail eggs and 9 out of 24 chicken eggs. But the chick are still coming. Not to sure about the quail though. I guess we will see. I am also kinda worried cause th water is looking pretty nasty in there from pieces falling into it