First chick hatched..now what?

[Nohoka]

This is our first time incubating eggs. They were "due" to hatch yesterday. We had our first one hatch this morning. My husband told me I have to leave it in the incubator until it is dry. I feel so sad for it, it's all alone in a styrofoam box, seems like a cold way to start your life. It is moving around and rolling our other eggs all over the place. When can I remove this little chickie from the incubator? Also, we have a few eggs that showed life last night, little holes pecked in their shell but now there is no movement. Does that mean they could have died? Or are they possibly just taking a break? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Guitartists]

It often takes hours...sometimes 12 or more for an egg to go from pip to fully hatched. Be patient

I know it's hard

And they can stay in the bator for up to 3 days ....so let the others hatch. I have removed mine before when they are fluffy and dry and put them in the brooder....... but if you are not super quick and you let all of the warm air escape... it can cause the membranes inside the pipped eggs to harden and it can trap and kill the chicks... so I would just wait

 

[miniwhipkey]

I would leave the little one in the bator until it is dry. Also, they do take very long breaks. It can take up to 48 hours. They will come, don't worry.

 

[Nohoka]

We have eggs with different dates so we have been removing the cover to turn them and we have had to add water for humidity. I did not realize we had to put the incubator on "lock down" at hatch time until this morning. Guess I should have checked on BYC earlier, then I'd have known what I know now!

I hope we didn't do damage to the other eggs. We'll know for next time. This is a borrowed incubator, we have since purchased one with with an egg turner, hopefully that helps, we won't have to take the cover off to turn them at least.

We also have two broody hens with eggs under them, one is due to hatch this weekend. If we only have one chick hatch from our incubator eggs do you think the hen would adopt it?

 

[Guitartists]

I have heard said that if you quickly and quietly slip it under her at night and add it to her brood, she may. I had two go broody and hatch eggs at about the same time, and they ended up being like Aunty to each others babies because I put them in the same area to brood. So hopefully.

When are the other eggs due? Turning later on is not as important as in the first couple of weeks.

 

[Nohoka]

The other eggs are due to hatch April 20th.

Still no movement with the other eggs that were starting to hatch last night around midnight. But it's only been about 16hrs so if it can take up to 48hrs there's still a good chance they're ok. I hear peeping but can't tell now if it's from my little hatchling or one still inside the egg. I have left the one lone chick in the incubator and haven't removed the cover. I have also resisted temptation to pick up the pecked eggs and look at them, or peel back a bit of shell to see what's happening. I am trying very hard to be patient. My little chickie that has hatched is having a nap snuggled up with 2 eggs.

 

[Guitartists]

They will rest for a long time sometimes..... last hatch I had, my first to pip was my LAST to hatch....took 2 days!

 

[Nohoka]

Good to know, that helps ease my mind and encourages me to be patient!

 

[Guitartists]

Another good thing seems to be that the ones that hatch and peep seem to encourage the rest

 

[Nohoka]

Second chick just hatched and more eggs are pipping

We actually watched this one exit the shell, very exciting! Our other little one is doing fine, I have her moved to a brooder box now and she has taken a bit of water and had a poop. So far so good. I'm sure she will be much happier with company, now I wish I had left her in the incubator but the other one will soon be able to join her in the brooder.