First Hatch--What to do about my sponge eating chic?

[IrelandEyes]

I am very new to this site and chickens. Today is Day 21 of my very first hatch and I woke up to find the cutest lil' Silkie Splash staring up at me. I put a sponge in the incubator to raise humidity during lock down and now what to do about the chic pecking away at my sponge? I am afraid to open incubator to remove sponge as I see four other eggs have pipped. Do I risk taking the sponge out? I don't want my chic to get sick from trying to eat the sponge. Any help is so very appreciated!!

 

[lightchick]

Welcome! If the Silkie chick is mostly dry then you can put her in a brooder. Have you actually SEEN her eating the sponge? I had a chick once that would eat styrofoam.

 

[gander007]

My incubator is almost eaten away by new hatch-lings but I do not believe it has ever killed one of them but if the room you have the incubator in is hot enough like above or equal to 95 F degrees then you can be quick about removing the sponge or chick then you can do so but if your room is colder the the inside of the incubator then just wait as you can wind uo shrink wrapping the other chicks in side their shell's ..

 

[IrelandEyes]

Thanks so much for answering!!! I was in a complete panic. So lucky to have found this wonderful site because I really didn't know what to do!!! My husband laughs that I spent 6 hours on watch and anytime my new lil' chic went for the sponge I would gently tap on glass to get his attention on something else. I was lucky that after my diligent 6 hours of chic sitting the other 5 eggs hatched over the next hours. All out safe!! Pretty tickled to have such a great start with my first hatch!!! But I will not be using a sponge again LOL my heart can't take it!

 

[gander007]

Thanks so much for answering!!! I was in a complete panic. So lucky to have found this wonderful site because I really didn't know what to do!!! My husband laughs that I spent 6 hours on watch and anytime my new lil' chic went for the sponge I would gently tap on glass to get his attention on something else. I was lucky that after my diligent 6 hours of chic sitting the other 5 eggs hatched over the next hours. All out safe!! Pretty tickled to have such a great start with my first hatch!!! But I will not be using a sponge again LOL my heart can't take it!

Oh your chicks look great

I use a small hand towel really two one at each end soaked in hot water to get the humidity up ..

 

[drumstick diva]

Your little silkie is gorgeous. Watching it and tapping on the glass for 6 hrs. is something I would do too. So don't feel bad.

 

[lightchick]

Thanks so much for answering!!! I was in a complete panic. So lucky to have found this wonderful site because I really didn't know what to do!!! My husband laughs that I spent 6 hours on watch and anytime my new lil' chic went for the sponge I would gently tap on glass to get his attention on something else. I was lucky that after my diligent 6 hours of chic sitting the other 5 eggs hatched over the next hours. All out safe!! Pretty tickled to have such a great start with my first hatch!!! But I will not be using a sponge again LOL my heart can't take it!

Adorable! They are sooo cute! Congrats on the watching and tapping! I'd do that too!