Final week...what do I need to do?

[mrl8810]

This is my first time seriously trying to incubate eggs...this Sunday they finish up and are supposed to hatch. What do I need to do before then...I'm going to have 3 bantam chicks...I will also have full sized at some point...the last time I had baby chicks(That I purchased from a hatchery) I put them in a metal bin that I found at tractor supply...I got 10.5 gallon which ended up being too small.. I've read some people saying to get a rubber mat to put in the incubator so the chicks feet don't get caught in the holes? I think my incubator(nuture360) says that it stops 3 days before it hatches and that I need to increase the humidity to 70 or something like that. Is there anything that I need to do for the chicks? Do i need to help them out of the shell or anything? Also do I need to put food and water in there for them? How long should they stay in the incubator until they come out? Thanks for any help

 

[ChickNanny13]

Stop turning the eggs at 18 days of incubation, increase humidity to at least 70%. Prepare your brooder ... If I understand correctly you're hatching 3 bantams at this time. They're smaller than the LF chicks from TSC, I use a large clear plastic storage bin to brood for the first week or two, in the house to observe. I do use potty pads which they'll end up tearing up by 2wks old, the non skid shelf liners are good (smooth side down, bumpy up) or even towels. I like the potty pads cause I can keep a close eye on their poop. You put the food/water dish in the brooder, chicks go in the brooder after they dry. They won't require feed for the first 3 days as they are still absorbing the yolk.

It would be best to allow them to hatch on their own. Understand the time frame of incubation is a guideline ... Sometimes they start pipping/zipping early sometime takes longer than 21day. PATIENCE is the key factor when incubating.

Best wishes and enjoy

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

• Lockdown on day 18, remove eggs from turner.
• Push humidity to 60-65%, not higher.
• You can use the shelf liner but I've actually had fewer leg issues using the incubators as they are and not adding things like shelf liners in.
• Set up your brooder appropriately, chicks grow fast and they grow big. I like x-large guinea pig cages, heating plate and puppy pads, moving to wood shavings later.
• Can stay in incubator for up to 48 hours but do NOT place food or water inside or open it up early. Try to keep it shut as much as you can, wait for all three to hatch or until it's been 36-48 hours since the first hatched.
• Don't help the chicks hatch unless you've asked on the forums first, it's not as easy as it sounds and shouldn't be done unless truly necessary. They can take several days to hatch sometimes, just be patient.

 

[Rm chickens]

With the nuture right 360 just take the turner out on day 18, open the vent fully and fill both ports with water and keep them full. Set back and let them do their thing unless something out of the ordinary pops up. Good luck