First time incubating...and I have a few questions please

[bigdaddyabc]

OK, so I made a homeade incubator from a foam cooler. It works pretty dang good. 10 days in, I got a great deal on a "real" bator, and transferred the eggs. All is well. Candling just like the pics on here for the days they are supposed to. I was thinking that I would do lock down in the homade bator, since it has no turner anyway, and I have guinea eggs I started with them, figuring on the move leaving the guineas in the turner. Question #1) Lockdown 72 hours before anticipated hatch, but what to do with them afterwards? How long do I wait to move the hatched chicks to the Rubbermaid brooder? 2) the brooder has bedding, food (chick starter), water, and heat lamp to 95 deg yes? 3) They stay in the brooder for how long? This is SC and very warm outside, but I want them to be strong enough to withstand outdoors. I bought six 2 week olds 2 weeks ago, and they were welcomed right into the flock with no issues. Kinda adopted really. So 4) is 2 weeks OK? Experience would tell me it is, but I may have just gotten lucky. I have a heat lamp in the coop too, but the last set just found a hen and that was that. Funny, they picked one that was only 12 weeks herself. Cuteness, I am here to tell you. Any help would be appreciated.

Rob

 

[Cowgirl71]

1: I count 36 hours from the first chick before removing all of them. At which point, I QUICKLEY remove all of the chicks, and put them in the brooder. You have to be very quick (I just crack the lid, rather than completley taking it off), or the humidity and temperature will go WAY to low. Then I count another 24-36 hours from the next chick that hatches, and repeat the process again.
2: Sounds good to me! Make sure not to use wood shavings or anything paper as bedding (I use hay). Also be prepared to adjust the heat lamp if their body language says to hot/cold...
3: You'll have to be the judge of that... I put my late-April-hatched RIRs outside without heat at three weeks old, and they were fine.
4: I think there's a good chance you just got lucky... Or maybe your hens are the more motherly type?

Hope this helps!