First time hatching- Help!

[chickenlady622]

Hi all. I'm a fairly new chicken mama (have had my little flock just over a year) and decided to try my hand at hatching my own babies. Awesome right? Right. So today is day 22, I had one baby hatch sometime from the evening of day 20 into the wee hours of day 21, one more follow suit the evening of day 21, three more the late hours of day 21 into early this morning, and one late comer this afternoon. 6 eggs still to go. At what point do I give up and take the newly hatched out of the incubator?

 

[homestead 101]

Day 25 is usually the last possible day of a chicken to hatch

 

[CherriesBrood]

If you don't see any more hatch by tomorrow, I'd take out your already hatched baby chicks because they can only be fine for 3 days in the incubator then they have to drink and eat. You can wait another day or two to see if any more hatch but day 24 is usually the day to give up.

How many eggs do you have incubating? Do you see any others with pips?

 

[kuchchicks]

I have personally found that if it's been 24 hours since the last hatch, the hatch is probably finished. I know someone out there will probably say that they have had them hatch beyond that, and I'm sure they have. But by far and away most eggs in the same incubator generally hatch relatively close together.

Nice job on your first hatch!!! Good for you

 

[chickenlady622]

I have 6 left to hatch out of 12. The 6 babies in there now are moving the eggs all around so I can't tell if I have any that are pipped. Should I open the incubator to see?

If you don't see any more hatch by tomorrow, I'd take out your already hatched baby chicks because they can only be fine for 3 days in the incubator then they have to drink and eat. You can wait another day or two to see if any more hatch but day 24 is usually the day to give up.

How many eggs do you have incubating? Do you see any others with pips?

 

[chickenlady622]

It will be 24 hours tomorrow afternoon since the last hatch. Is it okay to leave the babies in there until then? I've read so many conflicting things so I've been afraid to open the incubator and take them out.

I have personally found that if it's been 24 hours since the last hatch, the hatch is probably finished. I know someone out there will probably say that they have had them hatch beyond that, and I'm sure they have. But by far and away most eggs in the same incubator generally hatch relatively close together.

Nice job on your first hatch!!! Good for you

 

[CherriesBrood]

I wouldn't open the bator until the 3 day mark on the hatched babies. It's alright to take them out at 3 days if you do it quick and gently. Then at that time look at the others to see any pips. If you do see pips at that point then it may be time to assist, if your up for that. There is a great article on here that guides you through it, I'll find it for you if you want.

If you don't see any pips when you take the chicks out then tape the eggs and listen for peeping if you hear none then it's time to give up, if you hear peeping then it's time to assist.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions please let me know.

 

[chickenlady622]

Okay so 3 days from the first baby hatching? And yes if you could guide me through "helping" them if there are pips I would appreciate it! I have literally NO idea what I'm doing!

I wouldn't open the bator until the 3 day mark on the hatched babies. It's alright to take them out at 3 days if you do it quick and gently. Then at that time look at the others to see any pips. If you do see pips at that point then it may be time to assist, if your up for that. There is a great article on here that guides you through it, I'll find it for you if you want.

If you don't see any pips when you take the chicks out then tape the eggs and listen for peeping if you hear none then it's time to give up, if you hear peeping then it's time to assist.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions please let me know.

 

[CherriesBrood]

Yes that is correct. Just take all of the hatched chicks out then. And if you see pips or need to assist here's this article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching It's really great for assisting. It's a bit detailed but is still a great article. I think it has a table of contents to help you find topics easier.

 

[chickenlady622]

THANK YOU!!!!

Yes that is correct. Just take all of the hatched chicks out then. And if you see pips or need to assist here's this article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching It's really great for assisting. It's a bit detailed but is still a great article. I think it has a table of contents to help you find topics easier.