From 1st pip, how long till they're out? --- Brooder help also

[Roxannemc]

It could be a case where it internally pip the membrane and went thru shell, I had it happen on my first hatch it made it ok. As for opening your bator to remove chicks, i did it and worked ok , but my humididty was @ 70 % so it never fell below 60%. good luck, all will be fine don"t give up its worth the worry. And my bator is fomemade out of a 48 qt cooler.

I had a heat lamp too but didnt need that much AT ALL...
If your house or where you keep them is heated just a 60 watt bulb will do with a metal reflector thing with a clamp .I clamp it on the end of the brooder box usually a day before the chicks hatch put a thermometer where the heat hits and see what it gets to.Should be 95-100 may have to raise it higher to get less heat or lower but usually its plenty hot and yes a big enough cardboard box or tote etc so they can move away from the heat and get cool.
If they are toocool they will just sort of stand around or huddle.
If they are warm enough they will run around chirping and happy. I would for sure put a thermometer in there.

I have had some pip a small crack and take 10 or 12 hours before they have the energy to try and zip dont worry.Its a hard job they do in spurts
REst then work then rest.
Try to not open the bator though as you dont want to shrink them in the shell where they cant move to zip out and die in there. 60 is ok but no lower and thats a tiny lowJust dont open it unless you HAVE to
GOOD LUCK!.

Oh and get a cardboard box for a brooder. Easy and disposable when dirty. Sort of insulated to keep out drafts well holds in heat well . Top open of course
The holes in your brooder may make it too drafty on them unless its an old incubator with tinsy holes.
Whoops posted on the wrong person!

 

[JBarringerNC]

I don't have any Chick Starter feed on hand as of now, but I can go buy some tomorrow morning...
How long after chicks hatch out and dry off do they start eating chick feed.

 

[stevetone]

They can go about 3 days without food, but try to get them to eat a little before that. Drinking is more important than eating, so really try to get them to drink. Dip their little beaks in the water a few times until they seem to get it (side point: make sure that they cannot drown in the waterer that you are using).

 

[JBarringerNC]

I wish I would have learned about candling the eggs prior to me putting all 24 into the Incubator.

The lady I bought the eggs from was very knowledgeable about fowl.. but she didn't know (for sure) if these 2 dozen that I was buying were in deed fertilized..
She said, since they're in the coop with the Rooster all the time the eggs will be fertile.

 

[stevetone]

Deleted--duplicate

 

[stevetone]

...She said, since they're in the coop with the Rooster all the time the eggs will be fertile.

Maybe yes and maybe no. With declining daylight hours male chickens react by not being as "active." Although, since the hens are still laying, perhaps the roos are still in the mood.

It is my understanding, however, that the males are actually impacted more by daylight duration than are the females.

Keep your fingers crossed

 

[JBarringerNC]

the first egg is still trying to get itself out and it's barely made it anyway.

none of the other 23 even budged,
whats wrong with the first egg that started pipping at 6:45am yesterday.. and still hasn't emerged??

please somebody give me some insight or explain what's going on because I'm starting to lose hope for the one little guy thats going on 24 hours, its just now breaking the membrane sack under the shell..

 

[sumi]

Sometimes chicks just have a hard time getting out. They get tired and weak and don't make progress. Hatching is hard work! If you little one is in trouble and is obviously not going to get out by itself, you can consider giving it a hand. It's not difficult, you just need to know what to look for and what to do when. This thread here explains it very well:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/9316/intervention-helping-your-chicks-hatch

I've always been nervous about helping, but since I've read this I've helped a few chicks and they survived, grew up happy and strong and after a day or 2 I couldn't even tell which ones I helped and which hatched by themselves. Good luck!