Hatching eggs, what to do with the chicks now?

[chuckdog]

I have 26 eggs from black and blue australorps that are starting to hatch. I have one or two chicks that hatched early today that are now dry. Should I open up the Hova incubator and take them out and put them in my brooder or wait? They are running around and moving all the other eggs. I know I am not supposed to take them out until they are all dry, but they are plenty dry. Also, I have the brooder set up with heat lamp ready to go. Should I put some sugar in the water to help them or not? I have a small waterer that uses about a quart of water. This is the 20th day. Wasn't expecting them this early but this is the first time we have ever incubated ourselves.

 

[Sammysmom]

I would leave them in the 'bator. They will be fine for up to 48 hours. Plus their peeping encourages the other chicks to hatch.

 

[Paganbird]

You should leave them in. I took mine out & I wish I hadn't.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
I took mine out after they were able to walk around pretty good..

I had put 4 eggs in with my original load.. 2 of the 4 hatched and as soon as they were able to run around, I put them in the brooder

They are now a week plus doing fine..

 

[nickori]

How long can these little guys stay in there with no food or water? Dont they get dehyrdated after 24 hours?

 

[willowcol]

I have left them in for 2 day, they are fine. If you open the bator the humidity will drop and the rest of the chicks wll get sticky and not hatch as easy (if they can hatch at all). I would not open the bator its not a good idea. I learned this the hard way.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

After many, many hatches my opinion has changed. I think hatching chicks are very resilient and there is no harm done opening an incubator for a few seconds to fetch a couple of chicks. In fact, I think they (and the remaining eggs) do better when they are in the brooder.

I know there are many different opinions on this...this is just mine.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
It depends on your incubator.

My Little Monster (LG) which I sometimes use as a hatcher is very sensitive to humidity swing due to its low air volume AND opening from the top, all hot and humid air instantly escapes when you open it.

It will take long before humidity goes up again which may cause shells drying up.

However my home made bator due to larger air volume AND the fact I open it not from the top but from the front, comes back to set humidity in about 5 to 10 min.

I believe cabinet bators due to design and air volume are even less sensitive to brief opening.

Lesson learned:

DO NOT OPEN YOUR STYROBATOR WHEN HATCHING!

It will take it long time to recover humidity.

 

[nickori]

I have an LG. Only one of them. I have not figured out what I am using as a brooder box yet. But get that figured out tomorrow. I have a light, just need a container. What do most of you use?