First chick has hatched - Silkie (I forgot to wash my hands)

[Rosy Starling]

Well I have a lovely morning with my first ever hatch, all went to plan and no problems. I am just waiting for the 2nd egg to hatch. It is now 2 hrs into day 21. I thought it had internally pipped as I heard chirps 20 hrs ago but I have just candled quickly and no beak to be seen. I have popped it back in with a safety hole as these eggs had large detached air cells. However, I forgot to wash my hands and now I am panicking that i have introduced bacteria to the incubator with one chick and one hatching egg left. Has anyone else forgot to wash their hands but everything still hatched? I am literally screaming at myself for being so stupid! Can I wipe it with anything or just leave it alone? I am also concerned for the new baby chick. Its not like my hands were visibly dirty but certainly not sparkly clean like normal. What can I do?

 

[The Happster]

I wouldn't worry.
I have handled the eggs my hens sit on almost every time....mostly without just washing my hands, sometimes with dirt on them. They have always hatched. Although it's probably better to have washed them, I'm sure they'll be fine.

 

[Rosy Starling]

I wouldn't worry.
I have handled the eggs my hens sit on almost every time....mostly without just washing my hands, sometimes with dirt on them. They have always hatched. Although it's probably better to have washed them, I'm sure they'll be fine.

Thank you for you words of wisdom and for just being there for support. It's a wonderful, yet quite terrifying thing this hatching business lol x

 

[The Happster]

It is! But it's really worth it.
Let me know how it goes.
I was lucky to have a hen assist with my first hatch. So much less stressful.

 

[Rosy Starling]

First Silkie baby look so cute and my heart swells to see her/him. She/he is very active and keeps pecking at the old bits of shell and the water well? It's very hot here and Im wondering when to move her into the brooder. Should I wait for the 2nd chick, or move her ? She has been hatched for 5 hours? I know they say they can be left in for 24 hours but its hard to see her bobbing about and tripping over the other egg?

 

[The Happster]

I would leave her until she fluffs up a bit more. She will be ok.
So cute! It's funny to see their floof plastered to their heads.
I know how easy it is to worry about them, but they are pretty hardy. She probably just wants to sleep. She won't need food or water yet either.

 

[Rosy Starling]

Yes that is what my normal brain is telling me lol Thanks again. Floof (love it, describes it so well

 

[Kloie Grace]

Can you post a picture when she floofs up??? Thanks! SO CUTE!

 

[Rosy Starling]

Can you post a picture when she floofs up??? Thanks! SO CUTE!

Gladly, taken this morning. She looks rather cross but still full of floof

 

[The Happster]

Ahhhh
Adorable.
Anything from the second egg yet?