Chicks in Incubator Not as Active Today

[drdoolittle]

I had 41 eggs in the incubator and they stalrted hatching Tues. evening. I haven't opened the bator at all because last hatch I was taking them out as they hatched and dried and only about half hatched (some pipped and then just died). The chicks this time around have been very active but this morning seem pretty quiet.

There is one egg half-way hatched (it pipped yesterday) and I don't want to cause it to die by losing humidity if I open the bator. Do you think it's safe to say that no more eggs are going to hatch or should I give it one more day? I did read a post from 2009 where B. Saffles Farm said they have left the chicks in the bator for almost 4 full days-----that's why I haven't removed any of them yet.

 

[madamwlf]

This is just me but I would have taken them out already. Chicks can only survive around 3 days with no food after hatching. They are probably quite hungry and thirsty. What type of incubator? You should be able to sneak them out real quick.

 

[drdoolittle]

I have an LG still air. I just don't want to damage any that are in the process of hatching----another one just pipped about 5 min ago. I will wait a little longer and then take them out----I think more hatched than last time so I am glad that I didn't open the bator earlier like last time. I do have pretty high humidity in there as I've got a container of water with a sponge in it in there.

 

[spikennipper]

I have never attempted to hatch that many eggs but they should in theory if incubation was started at the same time for them all hatch at the same time or there abouts, the cheeping and tapping of the hatched eggs will stimulate the others to hatch I would expect them to have hatched within 24 hours by the time they start, I definitely would not leave chicks longer than this time frame so I would remove the ones that have hatched and are fluffy, if other eggs are still in the process of hatching try to do it as quickly as possible and perhaps add a warm wash cloth to bring the humidity up quicker, leaving them for 4 days is too long.

 

[drdoolittle]

O.K., I helped the one chick that had started hatching yesterday get out of his shell-------probably a good thing as he had a little bit of membrane stuck to his feathers. I took the rest out and put them in the brooder------14 healthy chicks (6 are Polish!). So I still have one more in the bator hatched and one in the process------hoping more will hatch, but I didn't do the best job storing these eggs prior to hatching and I am going to set more as soon as all these are done so I'm not too disappointed with the results.

 

[mstricer]

Just a little interested, what temp do you have it set at? If it is below 101* that would explain why they are taking so long to hatch.

 

[hdowden]

i only leave mine in for 2 days after hatching by then they usually are done and just drying the rest of the way

 

[shardean]

Just a little interested, what temp do you have it set at? If it is below 101* that would explain why they are taking so long to hatch.

I thought the temp should be 99.5?

 

[mstricer]

If you are using a still air bator. The temp on th top of eggs should be 101. For a forced air 99-100*

 

[Nsampsel]

Fastest way to raise humidity on a still air styrofoam bator if you have to open it during hatch is to spray the LID with hot water & close it back up. Humidity will skyrocket to 70-80 in minutes.