Hatching my first chicks in a incubator

[Prairie Princess]

Hello all,

I have been reading this wonderful site for awhile and decided to join. I am in the process of hatching my first brood of chicks. I usually let my hens do this but my granddaughters wanted to watch them hatch. Well I’m on day 19.5 and we just had one hatch early. I’m so terrified to take it out of the incubator. I have heat lamp and all my stuff handy but I’m a nervous wreck. Anyone out there that can guide me when to take chick out to set under heat lamp?

 

[Spartan22]

I would leave the chick in there for 24 hours, some will hatch and they need each other’s company.

 

[mill-j]

Never remove them until they are completely dry. And yes as mentioned above: it seems it helps them if there are several in there at one time.

Oh and relax, you'll get used to it . It might even get fun!

 

[gimmie birdies]

My suggestion is don't put any wet paper towels near the hatching eggs.

 

[Prairie Princess]

I would leave the chick in there for 24 hours, some will hatch and they need each other’s company.

Thank you Spartan22

 

[Prairie Princess]

I have 6 dry chicks and one almost dry.. I have one wet and out of shell but it is having a hard time... it has some lungs on it so that’s good. I have humidity at 70% to 73% and temp running at 100.76F down to 100.4F.

 

[alexa009]

I have 6 dry chicks and one almost dry.. I have one wet and out of shell but it is having a hard time... it has some lungs on it so that’s good. I have humidity at 70% to 73% and temp running at 100.76F down to 100.4F.

Temprature and humidity sound good, especially if you already got 6 to hatch. Chicks will usually roll other eggs around the incubator but shouldn't put any effect on the other hatches.

 

[Prairie Princess]

I have some stragglers. One has started to hatch and will give the others 2 more days. This is Day 20 by the way. Hatched a day early. I hope I did this correct

 

[Prairie Princess]

Also I read they need a few shots is this necessary as the chicks my hens raised has had no issues.

 

[mill-j]

I have some stragglers. One has started to hatch and will give the others 2 more days. This is Day 20 by the way. Hatched a day early. I hope I did this correct

Hatching at day 20 means temperature is too high. For your next hatch you might want to lower it a little bit.

For myself I like to have them hatch out a day early so they are done hatching by day 21, it allows for better scheduling.