Day 18 is approaching - give us all the lock down and hatching tips!

[Sloane Chickens]

Welcome to the club!

Keen to be here haha!

 

[Sloane Chickens]

Now it's just creepy, I have Belgian d'uccle incubating with my Araucana lol. Congratulations on the good hatch!

how are your Belgian d’uccles going? We had 5/6 quit between day 7 and 12. So sad! Hope yours are doing better!

 

[Down Under]

Also, extra questions:
1. When hatching happens. How long do you wait before removing chicks? Is it 24 or 48hrs?
2. If we are removing chicks but see a pipped egg, what do we do?
3. What do we do if we have eggs still not hatched when needing to remove current chicks?
4. Anything we should be aware of during lockdown, hatching and when they go into the brooder?

1. It depends, if a chick has mostly fluffed up but being a nuisance to the others that are hatching then it may need to be shifted to the brooder. If they are keeping to themselves then just let them fluff up. If they hatch with issues you may need to leave them in there until the issue is dealt with. 24 to 48 hours is a bit long and you will need room in the bator for the other chicks to hatch, most of the time they will fluff up within 8 to 12 hours sometimes less.

2. Close the lid again quickly.. it should only take about a second or two to remove a chick which won't usually effect the others.

3. Same as number 2.

4. Get some non-slip rubber draw liner mat from Bunnings or the Reject shop for the bottom of your incubator and for your brooder (an old tea towel will also work in the brooder). It will help stop them slipping over and getting splayed legs.
When transferring them to the brooder dip their beaks in the water so that they know what it is and where it is.
If you have time make up some "Magic Water for Baby Chicks" https://thisbeautifulfarmlife.com/magic-water-for-baby-chicks/ (if you don't have any garlic I have used onion with the same results).

Edit: Sorry your hatch happened weeks ago.

 

[Sloane Chickens]

1. It depends, if a chick has mostly fluffed up but being a nuisance to the others that are hatching then it may need to be shifted to the brooder. If they are keeping to themselves then just let them fluff up. If they hatch with issues you may need to leave them in there until the issue is dealt with. 24 to 48 hours is a bit long and you will need room in the bator for the other chicks to hatch, most of the time they will fluff up within 8 to 12 hours sometimes less.

2. Close the lid again quickly.. it should only take about a second or two to remove a chick which won't usually effect the others.

3. Same as number 2.

4. Get some non-slip rubber draw liner mat from Bunnings or the Reject shop for the bottom of your incubator and for your brooder (an old tea towel will also work in the brooder). It will help stop them slipping over and getting splayed legs.
When transferring them to the brooder dip their beaks in the water so that they know what it is and where it is.
If you have time make up some "Magic Water for Baby Chicks" https://thisbeautifulfarmlife.com/magic-water-for-baby-chicks/ (if you don't have any garlic I have used onion with the same results).

Edit: Sorry your hatch happened weeks ago.

Thanks! Don’t apologise. I’m loving learning about this!!!