First time hatching- Help!

[aart]

The biggest risk of opening the incubator to remove dried and rambunctious chicks is,
that it can/will drop the humidity which can dry out the membranes of pipped eggs,
making them hard to break out of.
How risky this is can depend on the conditions inside and outside the incubator.
Best to get the dried chicks out fast then close it back up pronto.

Don't 'assist' a pipped egg too soon.

 

[chickenlady622]

Thank you! They are dry and definitely rambunctious so I think I will take them out tonight. It does not look like there has been any progress on the remaining eggs but I will inspect more closely this evening. Thanks for your help! In the event any of the straggler eggs are pipped, how soon is too soon to help?

The biggest risk of opening the incubator to remove dried and rambunctious chicks is,
that it can/will drop the humidity which can dry out the membranes of pipped eggs,
making them hard to break out of.
How risky this is can depend on the conditions inside and outside the incubator.
Best to get the dried chicks out fast then close it back up pronto.

Don't 'assist' a pipped egg too soon.

 

[CherriesBrood]

Your welcome! Let me know how it goes or if you need any more help. if chicks have not made progress after 12 hours of pipping then it's usually time to assist.

 

[aart]

..... if chicks have not made progress after 12 hours of pipping then it's usually time to assist.

Disagree...I've seen them take 24 hours from pip to beginning of zip...says so right in the link you posted.

There are many variables to take into consideration before assisting a hatch.

 

[CherriesBrood]

..... if chicks have not made progress after 12 hours of pipping then it's usually time to assist.

Disagree...I've seen them take 24 hours from pip to beginning of zip...says so right in the link you posted.

There are many variables to take into consideration before assisting a hatch.

True. I was thinking of the statement that chicks usually zip after 12 hours of pipping... my mistake. I agree with aart. Good luck!

 

[chickenlady622]

UPDATE: we've had one more hatch today (day 23). Is it safe to pull the dry babies out this evening and give the remaining 5 eggs another day or so?

 

[CherriesBrood]

How long has it been since the first one hatched?

 

[chickenlady622]

3 days sometime between 11pm Sunday night and 6am Monday morning. I went ahead and pulled the first 6 babies (all hatched between day 21-22) last night and put them in the brooder (going to try and attach a photo) I left the one who hatched yesterday (day 23) afternoon as it was still wet, and we had another hatch this morning! The newbie was looking awfully sickly and weak when I left for work, but my husband says it's perked up a bit, so fingers crossed! That leaves 4 eggs unhatched at this point, no sign of a pip from any of them.

How long has it been since the first one hatched?

 

[aart]

3 days sometime between 11pm Sunday night and 6am Monday morning. I went ahead and pulled the first 6 babies (all hatched between day 21-22) last night and put them in the brooder (going to try and attach a photo) I left the one who hatched yesterday (day 23) afternoon as it was still wet, and we had another hatch this morning! The newbie was looking awfully sickly and weak when I left for work, but my husband says it's perked up a bit, so fingers crossed! That leaves 4 eggs unhatched at this point, no sign of a pip from any of them.

That sounds good!
When I remove dry and rowdy chicks I try to keep them in groups of at least 2 so when I add the later hatched ones to the brooder they have a buddy.

 

[chickenlady622]

I didn't even think of leaving a buddy in there! I felt like such a jerk immediately after when I realized I'd left #7 all alone! Hopefully #8 pulls through so they have each other to hang with until they're ready for the brooder!

That sounds good!
When I remove dry and rowdy chicks I try to keep them in groups of at least 2 so when I add the later hatched ones to the brooder they have a buddy.