Hatching Early! Still in the turner! HELP!

[mrbstephens]

Today is day 20, I happened to look in the incubator tonight and HOLY MOLY a whole bunch are pipped and one has zipped! Why are they so early?! I quickly turned the turner off, added more water to the troughs and pulled out the ventilation plug. Did I do right? Why are they so early? I'm not ready! Aaaghhh!

 

[mrbstephens]

GAH!

 

[fried green eggs]

Don't panic - it's ok. Congrats - You did good. You want to humidity to go up so keep a eye on that and don't open the incubator while any of them are pipped or hatching. When they start to hatch a day early it just means your thermomiter is warmer by a deg than it showed. Not a problem. I hatched 3 turkey poults with the auto-turner still running and they only had 43% humidity. They were all dry and fluffed up and fine so, the auto turner was not a problem.
Don't pull any chicks out of the incubator until they are all dryed, fluffed and walking around. So you have time to get a brooder ready. Good Luck

 

[mrbstephens]

I opened it really quickly a crack just to get more water in the trough and then closed it again. The one zipped is working hard to get out......almost there!

 

[mrbstephens]

They're so little. They won't get hurt being in the turner? Seems like a far drop and then they can maybe get under it.

 

[fried green eggs]

Just keep a eye on them incase any have a problem. If you really feel they will have a problem - have someone help you so, you can pull the auto turner and Mist the eggs with warm water and add hot water to trough and add a hot water soaked sponge. You will loose heat and humidity so work quick. Good Luck.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Well I beg to differ a bit. You didn't say what your hatching, but being on the quail thread I'd think that's what we're talk'n about. Coturnix hatch in 17-18 days, and you feel yours are early. So that points to bob whites.... If you started hatching at day 20, thats 3 days early! either your bator is running way hot, or your day count is off. I hatch most everything in trays or racks. Just unplug the turner. Every once and a while one will get under or tangled in a turner rack so keep a eye on'em. I also feel quail should be out of the bator and in a brooder with food and water as soon as they are dry. I try to only air lift them out in waves, every few hrs or so.. Game birds just don't have the reserves chickens do, they can not go nearly as long with out water. If held in the bator a extended period, you will end up with a bunch of chicks with pasty butt... Good luck with your birds, Bill