First time hatch went a little wrong

[Lilyofsalen]

While I built my own incubator, I used quail eggs to test my homemade turner both inside and out the incubator. These eggs went through temp spikes and drops as I perfected the incubator. Sometimes the egg turner wasn't even plugged in. When I put my first official batch of eggs in, I decided to candle the 'test eggs' and keep the ones that looked like they had something. I set 5 of them and took out another that was not developing a few days ago.

Anyways, I heard chirping in my incubator last night and one had hatched! Two others had pipped. Unfortunately, things went a little wrong. They were hatching a day earlier than when I had thought to put them in lockdown! (Because my incubator was a work in progress, I decided to start the incubation time for these eggs on the day when I started to get the temps fairly steady. Boy, was I wrong about the date). Normally, it wouldn't be too big a deal for an early hatch but my incubator is a little dangerous for chicks! They could fall off the shelves and possibly get into the heating element/fan. For this reason, I put them into mesh-covered baskets at lockdown.
The little one that hatched actually fell off the shelf (luckily it was a small fall and he was OK) and wandered about the bottom for a while.

As soon as I discovered the hatchling, I put him and all the other eggs into a mesh-covered basket. The incubator was only open for about 30 seconds while this happened. I seriously hope I haven't endangered the eggs that had pips. I'm a little freaked out because I haven't seen them (unless the chick rolls them) move since I put them in the basket, do you think they'll be fine? How long until they should hatch? I'm working on proper temps for my brooder right now and then I'll take the chick out.

 

[Nabiki]

They should be as okay as they're going to be. When I open my incubator after lockdown, I put a pipette of water onto a paper towel in the incubator. This brings humidity back up very quickly but dries out quickly enough that it doesn't raise the humidity over the percentage that you want.

 

[Lilyofsalen]

When should they hatch? 24 hours from pip right? Do they still have a good chance of hatching?

 

[Nabiki]

When should they hatch? 24 hours from pip right? Do they still have a good chance of hatching?

Usually 24 hours or less from pip. It sounds like these guys have been through a lot, so it's hard to say what their chances are. You might want to take a couple pipped ones out of the incubator and tap on them gently next to your ear. If they're alive, you'll hear tapping or even peeping in response. You can candle the others to see if they've pipped internally or not.

 

[Lilyofsalen]

Wouldn't taking them out endanger them though? How do I tell if I shrinkwrapped them? Can they get out of the egg themselves if it shrinkwrapped a little? What happens if the egg rolls to cover the pip--will it suffocate the chick inside?

 

[anvia]

Personally I’d put them back in- check temp & humidity are on track for your geographic location and then leave them well alone! Check on them visually if you can but otherwise try to keep your incubator conditions stable. Lockdown means just that! We’ve all gone in when things don’t go to plan - just as you have and for good reason - but for the best results for the rest I’d try to get the incubator conditions stable and then leave them to it. Otherwise you risk shrink wrapping, malpositioning ect ect...
Good luck with your hatch!

The newly hatched can kick the other eggs around a little - we use knobbly rubber drawer liner on the incubator floor so there’s always good airflow even if the pipped part gets rolled underneath. If you are worried one is shrink wrapping keep an eye on it - we find quail are comparatively fast from pip to zip. A tent of damp kitchen towel over an egg you are concerned might be shrink wrapping can help - but make a tent over the egg... not touching the eggg - make sure it’s not blocking airflow.

 

[anvia]

Also I’d leave the hatched one in.... that one will chat to the others who have pipped and are trying to hatch - it encourages them.
The hardest thing at hatching time is trying not to interfere too much! Good intentions & all that..... But pips are great progress don’t interfere! the babies are absorbing their yolks and doing what they need to do.... it’s worrying watching & wondering if you should help... but most of the times they are best left to hatch by themselves.
Best of luck & I hope you have a good hatch!

 

[Lilyofsalen]

I took the chick out about an hour ago, but he was crying all night, morning, and part of the afternoon, cheering them on. I hope at least one other hatches or the hatchling will be lonely for a week before the next batch hatch out. I also put a warm wet paper towel next to the basket when I took the chick out so hopefully that helps.

Speaking of lonely hatchlings . . . what can I do so he stops crying all the time? Can a chick be so lonely that it interferes with eating and such?

 

[muans]

While I built my own incubator, I used quail eggs to test my homemade turner both inside and out the incubator. These eggs went through temp spikes and drops as I perfected the incubator. Sometimes the egg turner wasn't even plugged in. When I put my first official batch of eggs in, I decided to candle the 'test eggs' and keep the ones that looked like they had something. I set 5 of them and took out another that was not developing a few days ago.

Anyways, I heard chirping in my incubator last night and one had hatched! Two others had pipped. Unfortunately, things went a little wrong. They were hatching a day earlier than when I had thought to put them in lockdown! (Because my incubator was a work in progress, I decided to start the incubation time for these eggs on the day when I started to get the temps fairly steady. Boy, was I wrong about the date). Normally, it wouldn't be too big a deal for an early hatch but my incubator is a little dangerous for chicks! They could fall off the shelves and possibly get into the heating element/fan. For this reason, I put them into mesh-covered baskets at lockdown.
The little one that hatched actually fell off the shelf (luckily it was a small fall and he was OK) and wandered about the bottom for a while.

As soon as I discovered the hatchling, I put him and all the other eggs into a mesh-covered basket. The incubator was only open for about 30 seconds while this happened. I seriously hope I haven't endangered the eggs that had pips. I'm a little freaked out because I haven't seen them (unless the chick rolls them) move since I put them in the basket, do you think they'll be fine? How long until they should hatch? I'm working on proper temps for my brooder right now and then I'll take the chick out.

this is how i build my own incubator..i used a cardboard . i sealed evey corner with some glue and drilled some tiny holes(around 5 holes)..i heated the incubator with a 25watt heating bulb. i put a bowl of water till day 15..at one side i drilled a single hole where i slide in the thermometer and i often check the temperature if its 103+ degree f i drill some hole the cool it down and if its below 97f i cover some holes again..and at day 14 i put a tiffin sqaure box of water and put some wet clean sponge inside the tiffin box to level up the humidity..and i drill one hole so that i can see what's going inside the incubator and never open the incubator again untill they hatch..i've always got 100% hatch rate..btw i turn the eggs 5times a day

 

[anvia]

I took the chick out about an hour ago, but he was crying all night, morning, and part of the afternoon, cheering them on. I hope at least one other hatches or the hatchling will be lonely for a week before the next batch hatch out. I also put a warm wet paper towel next to the basket when I took the chick out so hopefully that helps.

Speaking of lonely hatchlings . . . what can I do so he stops crying all the time? Can a chick be so lonely that it interferes with eating and such?

Yup - only chicks are lonely chicks.....and they will cry and cry. He might be better back in with the eggs- if anyone else is still alive and hatching he’ll chat with them. If he’s an only hatch you might want to think about trying to find him a friend - same age and stage.
Have you got a hygrometer to help guide you on humidity? That might set your mind at ease re shrink wrapping and help you get conditions as good as you can for your next hatch.