First Hatch - Now What?

[rusticacres]

This is my first time to incubate and i woke up this a.m. to a newly hatched chick. He looks great moving around and chirping. i still have about 16 eggs that are due to hatch over the next couple days.

My question is what do I do now? Remove him quickly after he dries or wait till this evening? I hate to disturb him if he is ok but wonder about food/water.

Also, we are making a brooder and how can you regulate the temp from 100 to 95 etc?

Please help!!!!!

 

[swtangel321]

He will be fine without food and water for about 24-48 hours. So as long as your eggs are all hatching within that time he will be fine. CONGRATS on the baby !! Hope the others hatch

If you do decided to take him out before all the others hatch make sure you do it quick, since everytime the bator is open the hum gets screwy inside the bator and could effect your other eggs.

 

[Fudgie]

I agree with swtangle

I have hatched several batches and people told me to get them into the brooder to make room for the others. EVERY time, half hatch the other half does not. HMMMM must be something to do with opening the bator to take out egg shells and chicks. My last hatch I did not do that and I got all but about 5 hatched. 24 good ones. Not bad!

 

[swtangel321]

About the brooder temp, 100 is way to high for baby chicks (they could cook being that hot) You should keep it right around 85. They best way I have found to do it is, put your heat lamp on one side of your brooder (about 85) that way if the chicks are to hot they can move to the other side without the heat lamp to be cooler. Keep a temp gauge near the heat lamp so you know what the temp is, to make it a little cooler move the heat lamp up a little.

 

[deerman]

Brooder temp. start at 95 and reduce 5 degree each week.

 

[Rufflemyfeathers]

How long should you keep in brooder..Mine is in house and about to hatch this Thanksgiving weekend..so just was curious how long should stay in brooder before going to the coup..I live in Florida. Thanks for your help..my first time too.