Help, first time chicken hatching!

[chickengeorge06]

Yay, our first chick just hatched! It's "crawling" around the incubator and we have 12 more eggs in there. Is this ok? Will the little chick hurt the other eggs?

 

[CluckyCharms]

Same question I asked a short while ago (only mine haven't hatched yet). This is what I was told by members on this board:

Leave them in the bator until they're dry (it doesn't take long - about an hour on average).

It's fine if they kick the eggs around, it shouldn't hurt them any (might make them a bit dizzy though, haha). If anything, it may even encourage some of the others to begin their exit(s) too.

If you're THAT concerned about it, and you're a "mother hen" yourself (like me) they suggested putting an egg carton in the incubator to prevent kicking around...but it's a bit harder for the chick to hatch that way because they don't have the freedom they'd have to hatch comfortably without the carton.

I say leave them alone and it'll be okay.

CONGRATULATIONS

 

[Big A Chickens]

Not normally. I usually get nervous after over half hatch and they start to kick the other eggs around. I try moving them out of the bator once they dry and start to fluff up around 6 to 8 hours when this starts to happen and set the piped eggs back to there original position if the kick them all the way over. But I'm sure if it makes a difference. Just me being over protective I guess. Good luck on the rest of your hatch

 

[chickengeorge06]

Thank you! I've read so many opinions about when to remove them from the bator. I've read everything from "get them out within a couple hours" to "it's ok for them to remain for a day or two"???? What is the correct answer???? One article said they can dehydrate after a few hours, is this true? My son is so happy, I would hate for something to happen now! Especially since it's 3:00 am and I woke him up to see the first baby hatch!

 

[aussie pete]

i leave mine in the incubator till they all hatch &dry out ,they don't need any food or water for 48 hrs, because they r still feeding on the yolk they absorbed .just dip each one's beak in the waterer as u put them in the brooder, so they get a drink know where to find a drink.they won't dehydrate in the incubator during the first 48 hrs.hope this helps.enjoy yr fluffy butts

cheers Pete

 

[chickengeorge06]

Thanks for your help! We have 4 total now! 13 eggs in all, 9 more to hatch....do you take the shells out as they hatch or do you just leave everything and keep the incubator closed? It's getting messy in there.

 

[aussie pete]

i just leave everything until they hatch ,leave incubator shut til day 23 in case a couple r a bit slow to hatch.once all hatched i then cleanup & wash incubator after chics r in brooder

 

[weimarmama]

It's perfectly fine to leave the chicks in until the hatch is finished. They've absorbed the yolk and they'll receive nourishment from that for the next couple of days. I do remove chicks sometimes, though, usually when it's a big hatch. By the time I have ten chicks out and just as many eggs still left to hatch, it starts getting a little crowded in there - especially with the hatched chicks trying to play football with the eggs . But you have to be super quick when opening the lid during lockdown so as not to cause shrinkwrap in the remaining eggs, plus I mist any exposed membranes with a spray bottle before putting the lid back on.

Congrats on your chicks and good luck with the remaining eggs Oh, and

 

[chickengeorge06]

Thank you, everyone! All your advice and words of wisdom are appreciated! Five so far and counting! They are SOOO darn cute!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

YAY!!! Congrats!!!! Fluffy Butts!!! My silkie hatched with a staggered hatch and she didnt break any other eggs!!