Hatched!

[tleeb1]

I have 6 chicks that have hatched. After reading the instructions in my Brinsea Mini-Advance incubator, I'm still confused. I know they should stay in there at least 24 hours. But it also says that they may be removed after they've fluffed AND that the humidity level should remain high - to avoid being tempted to lift the cover. So, how do they fluff in such a humid environment?

 

[kays chicks]

I have 6 chicks that have hatched. After reading the instructions in my Brinsea Mini-Advance incubator, I'm still confused. I know they should stay in there at least 24 hours. But it also says that they may be removed after they've fluffed AND that the humidity level should remain high - to avoid being tempted to lift the cover. So, how do they fluff in such a humid environment?

i havent got a brinsea but i take mine out when they are part fluffy if you understand that , i leave them until there is no room and put them in my warm brooder to rest . do you have other eggs in or have they all hatched ? if they have all hatched them the humiditiy wont matter they will fluff up quicker

 

[tleeb1]

They're all hatched. So leaving them in there when there is now soo much humidity is fine? Because the first ones (hatched yesterday around 4 pm) still seem wet. Not as wet as when they hatched, but not fluffy. I was just concerned for their health.

 

[kays chicks]

They're all hatched. So leaving them in there when there is now soo much humidity is fine? Because the first ones (hatched yesterday around 4 pm) still seem wet. Not as wet as when they hatched, but not fluffy. I was just concerned for their health.

if it was me i would let some humidity out so they can dry , mine are normally dry in about 3-4 hours and i leave them only 24 hours if there is room and they are ok but as ive said ive opened to remove shell and mine are always fine , congrats by the way , i have one piping and no sign with the other 18

 

[CluckyCharms]

[Full Edit] You'll find everything you ever wanted to know, and a bag of chips - in the posts below.

 

[WaterFowl209]

Once hatched I agree, let out the humidity so the chicks can dry off

 

[kays chicks]

remember how long the first chick has been in there and still wet

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined us!

And congratulations on what sounds like a great hatch!!!!

You can stop worrying. The hard part is over. The humidity is only important while the eggs are hatching. Once the hatch is over, humidity id not important at all. High humidity won't hurt. Low humidity won't hurt.

During hatch the humidity in my incubatior can jump up another 20% due to the moisture from the chicks hatching. Depending on the type of incubator you have and the background humidity, it can take quite a while before the chicks dry off and fluff up. It doe not matter. As long as they don't chill, they will be fine.

The chicks can stay in there for three days after they hatch without food and water if you need them to. They absorb the yolk to live on so there is no rush to get them out. There is absolutely no reason to leave them in the incubator that long if they hatch is over but you can if you need to. You don't need to leave them in there 24 hours after they have all hatched if you don't want to.

I like to leave them in there long enough that they are moving around real well and active. Usually they dry out on a few hours but sometimes it takes quite a bit longer, depending a lot on background humidity in the room. It doesn't matter. They are fine anyway.

If you wish, you can take them out before they are dry and put them in the warm brooder. They'll finish drying there and fluff up nicely. But what you don't want to do is give them a chill. If you remove them when they are still damp, don't let them spend enough time in a cool location and especially in a cool breeze to where they will get cold. Those chicks are really pretty tough though you won't think so when you first see them. Warm the brooder up before you put them in it. You don't have to obsess over this or rush to the point that you get careless and do something silly. Just take reasonable precautions. I put them in a cardboard box and carry them a few hundred feet to the brooder, which is in my coop. It's really not a big deal as long as you take reasonable precautions.

Don't worry about them being crowded in the incubator. As long as the eggs were OK, the chicks will be OK. They really don't mind being crowded.

Good luck on your next step and again,

 

[kays chicks]

 

[tleeb1]

Thank you everyone for the great advice. They are in the brooder now and fluffed and sleeping nicely. 6 viable, 6 hatched! The children will be excited when they get home from school!