First time hatching chicks

[2ndTink]

4/6 of mine did hatch and these were shipped eggs! I discarded the other two on day 14, they hadn’t developed. So all eggs that made it to lockdown hatched!

I just was not aware of the possibility of stuff staying on, sounds like it’s relatively normal though, other than the one that had it wrap around its foot!! But she’s up and running now. I did take her out and we clipped it as it wouldn’t come loose enough to gently move. It was so thin. I am glad we did now, there’s no bleeding, and I think she might be my only hen out of the bunch lol! So she’s important!

These are autosexing chicks so that’s how I can tell. Still waiting for 3 and 4 to fluff out but they are looking a bit like the boy so far…

Hatching can be nerve-wracking, you did very well!

I'm setting a couple autosexing eggs this weekend, my first time that I'll know pullets from cockerels on Day 1 and I'm excited!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

This is the first chick now… whatever thing was on his behind is now looking green…

Looking really good!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

SOS this one has a thick cord attached to it.. ugh! What do I do?

I'm not trying to sound brash, but trust me when I say that most things that look "scary", when hatching chicks really aren't. There are so many things that happen, and so many moving parts in an egg, that when they actually pop out, you're like OMG! Just sit back and give them some time, most things will resolve in their own. Enjoy the beginning of a new life

 

[Slothinc]

The things in the photos (look like a hernia or a thick cord still attached to them) are very normal and are often seen inside the shells after chicks hatch. I think it may actually be their first “poop” that sometimes comes out before or as they are hatching. I have seen it many times, not attached to the chick like it was in your two but usually inside the shell after they come out. I wouldn’t worry about it at all - nothing to be alarmed about.

I wonder though if your incubator is running at a slightly low temp, just because they hatched slightly later than expected. My chickcozy runs 1-2 degrees cold but because of where they have you place the thermometer, it doesn’t register as being low, but down lower where the eggs are sitting is colder. Stupid design and I really hate their company as the customer service doesn’t exist. So I would never recommend the incubator to anyone, but have finally learned to work around its quirks for my own hatching.

Congrats on your 4 babies!! Did you say they are Marans? I didn’t realize that they are autosexing! Are they cuckoos?

 

[Debbie292d]

I'll only jump in here in the end to suggest any that seem to be having "an issue" usually is quickly resolved as they rest and dry off. If any continue to exhibit anything strange looking, even like splayed legs, usually an extra 12 -24 hours in the incubator improves their condition tremendously. They can go 72 hours once hatching before they need any food/water so you can feel safe to do just leave them alone in there a bit longer. If it's just chicks, no eggs in there, I turn the incubator down to 95F.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I'm not trying to sound brash, but trust me when I say that most things that look "scary", when hatching chicks really aren't. There are so many things that happen, and so many moving parts in an egg, that when they actually pop out, you're like OMG! Just sit back and give them some time, most things will resolve in their own. Enjoy the beginning of a new life

That is actually really comforting to hear! It’s hard to know what to worry about and what not to!

I had chickens growing up, but we lived on a farm and our hens just did the hatching, I don’t even know if we knew how long she was supposed to sit on the eggs lol! My chickens now are treated very much like pets lol! I seem to find things to be concerned about that I’m sure we never even questioned growing up.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

The things in the photos (look like a hernia or a thick cord still attached to them) are very normal and are often seen inside the shells after chicks hatch. I think it may actually be their first “poop” that sometimes comes out before or as they are hatching. I have seen it many times, not attached to the chick like it was in your two but usually inside the shell after they come out. I wouldn’t worry about it at all - nothing to be alarmed about.

I wonder though if your incubator is running at a slightly low temp, just because they hatched slightly later than expected. My chickcozy runs 1-2 degrees cold but because of where they have you place the thermometer, it doesn’t register as being low, but down lower where the eggs are sitting is colder. Stupid design and I really hate their company as the customer service doesn’t exist. So I would never recommend the incubator to anyone, but have finally learned to work around its quirks for my own hatching.

Congrats on your 4 babies!! Did you say they are Marans? I didn’t realize that they are autosexing! Are they cuckoos?

That is a really good tip for next time, I’ll turn the incubator up a half a degree next time around. Hadn’t thought about the placement of the thermometer!

These were bielefelders! I’ve heard such great things about them. You are right that I have marans on order though so you were remembering correctly! They were part of my preorder, arriving in March. I just got way too excited and ordered these ones early. Now I think I’m going to actually add on a few more hatching eggs and do another round before March so I have a few more to integrate with my current flock when I introduce my one and only hen that I got this time (chicken math!).

The breeder I ordered from has black, splash and blue marans so I’m hoping for a splash or blue when I do get them. I have two black copper marans already.

My son really wants me to order icelandics, anyone have experience with them??

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I'll only jump in here in the end to suggest any that seem to be having "an issue" usually is quickly resolved as they rest and dry off. If any continue to exhibit anything strange looking, even like splayed legs, usually an extra 12 -24 hours in the incubator improves their condition tremendously. They can go 72 hours once hatching before they need any food/water so you can feel safe to do just leave them alone in there a bit longer. If it's just chicks, no eggs in there, I turn the incubator down to 95F.

Good idea, I’ve left them all in the incubator overnight. I hadn’t thought of turning the temperature down, that is a good idea.

Should I be doing anything with the humidity level in there?

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Thank you all for your help today! What a day! Definitely a learning experience and so rewarding. Couldn’t have done it without your help.

And now I’m officially addicted to hatching eggs and going to order another round as I can’t wait for my preorder that is still more than a month away lol!

 

[Debbie292d]

Good idea, I’ve left them all in the incubator overnight. I hadn’t thought of turning the temperature down, that is a good idea.

Should I be doing anything with the humidity level in there?

If it's just for my weak ones, I shut the humidity off.

I guess that might depend how low your ambient humidity is there though. I'd think keeping them at 30% or a bit more would be fine, but you don't want to leave it at 70% for sure! Soon they'll be in your brooder so better to get used to whatever it's going to be there.