Hands on hatching and help

[dcba flock]

Like WV said, it's pretty much a personal preference. I usually like to pull them out 2 or more at a time. But it also depends on how much trouble they are making inside the incubator. The first usually snuggles up to a pipped egg and goes to sleep, so I'll leave it to keep encouraging the pipped eggs to progress. But if they are rambunctious and playing soccer with the pipped eggs then they come out and go straight into the pre-heated brooder.

The newest one is exhausted of course trying to sleep the other one is bouncing around way playing leap frog since it came out last night humidity is at almost 90% thinking of leaving them until later today/tonight to see if more pop but it's crowded and getting more so w/ empty eggs and bouncing babes lol

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So I have one that hatched last night a bunch more pips another unzipping the early hatcher is wild I'm not opening the bator anytime soon but realistically how long on avg do u leave them

That's a loaded question for this thread.  We pull them out whenever we want to.  

Personally, I find a good lull in the action and grab them out.

Like WV said, it's pretty much a personal preference. I usually like to pull them out 2 or more at a time. But it also depends on how much trouble they are making inside the incubator. The first usually snuggles up to a pipped egg and goes to sleep, so I'll leave it to keep encouraging the pipped eggs to progress. But if they are rambunctious and playing soccer with the pipped eggs then they come out and go straight into the pre-heated brooder.

Yup...all this...lol some leave them till they are dry and fluffed, some wait until all are hatched. I like to be able to move the first two to the brooder together, if they are close enough in hatching, but after that once they are up and moving, they go to the brooder. Wether it's 20 minutes or two hours. The only time I leave chicks in the bator for an extended amount of time is if they hatch during night or if they are slow to motivate, which is seldom.

 

[dcba flock]

Thank you this is the biggest hatch I have done don't want to shrink wrap the pokey ones either not all r pipped etc

 

[Blueyes132]

Now I'm having problems keeping the humidity up. It's at 28% day 7. I have a incubator I have the channels full and 2 sponges in it. Not sure what to do.

 

[WVduckchick]

Now I'm having problems keeping the humidity up. It's at 28% day 7. I have a incubator I have the channels full and 2 sponges in it. Not sure what to do.

My guess is either a spot where the lid is not closing completely, or a faulty hygrometer. Has your hygrometer been checked for accuracy?

 

[dcba flock]

Now I'm having problems keeping the humidity up. It's at 28% day 7. I have a incubator I have the channels full and 2 sponges in it. Not sure what to do.

What's ur temp? Is your hygrometer calibrated? What is your target humidity for your area I'm in the northeast so pretty easy to be around 40% here w/ a little water...?

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I had mine done after one!!! lmao

Lol we can't do hat in cali. You have to have 3 live children to get your tubes tied or get a vasectomy. I wanted a large family though so it's worked out haha

Blooie-I didn't even scroll down the recipe page. I just opened the link and bookmarked it. I just went back and I read the whole thing! I should have known! They look mouthwatering!
Believe it or not I'm not an egg person. I can eat quiche or omelets if they have lots of veggies and cheese or deviled eggs with lots of relish, lol but I do not like plain eggs. Go figure. That's why in the very beginning I went with fluffy birds for hatching eggs and not hardy egg layers!
It will be fun to watch them grow out with the mpc ones. I had someone contact me, I forget what state but not nearly as far as Cali, she wanted me to ship chicks, which I haven't started doing yet. She's to scared to try eggs but I thought of you and your hatch!

Yes my hatch was amazing for how far they traveled. Best bantam hatch I've got from shipped eggs. I'M curious.. have you noticed if their is any correlation between size and sex? I have some that are the same size as our 6 week old mpc chicks amd some that are so petite. Was thinking maybe the big ones are boys lol. Also I've never brooded in the winter. I'm wondering what age I can put them outside? IT'S so hot here in the summer they can go out at 4 weeks winter isn't freezing but is still cold. Maybe the upper 40s at night.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

 

[Blooie]

Check out this article, if you haven't already, @jenniferlamar70

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

Mine start out in the great outdoors, even with temps in the teens and twenties. Even my "delicate" little Silkies. (Only reason I tossed that last in there is because I always thought I'd stay away from them because they were so fragile. Um, yeah....not so much! I mean, still have to be sensible, but raising them in a hothouse isn't necessary either.)

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Now I'm having problems keeping the humidity up. It's at 28% day 7. I have a incubator I have the channels full and 2 sponges in it. Not sure what to do.

My guess is either a spot where the lid is not closing completely, or a faulty hygrometer.  Has your hygrometer been checked for accuracy? 

That would be my first question. Is the hygrometer accurate? Even in the house with wood pellet stove running all I need is a wet sponge to hold it around 30%
Of course at 28%, I'd be happy. I run right around 30% the first 17 days. Do you know how to check your air cells for growth?

Lol we can't do hat in cali. You have to have 3 live children to get your tubes tied or get a vasectomy. I wanted a large family though so it's worked out haha
Yes my hatch was amazing for how far they traveled. Best bantam hatch I've got from shipped eggs. I'M curious.. have you noticed if their is any correlation between size and sex? I have some that are the same size as our 6 week old mpc chicks amd some that are so petite. Was thinking maybe the big ones are boys lol. Also I've never brooded in the winter. I'm wondering what age I can put them outside? IT'S so hot here in the summer they can go out at 4 weeks winter isn't freezing but is still cold. Maybe the upper 40s at night.

Usually if you are still of child bearing age and only have one here you get a problem too asking for a tubal. I was expecting it. But my gyno never questioned it. Of course I was 34 when my son was born and I think he was 3 maybe 4 when I had it done. So I was pushing 40...lol
Years ago, when I lived in Syracuse I had a younger friend who had her first at 16 years old, and by the time we became friends she was in her 20's with 4 kids got pregnant again and after the last asked for a tubal and they still gave her a problem because she was only in her mid 20,s. I threatened to go in and have a talk with him myself because she sure as heck didn't need any more. They did do it, thankfully.