HELP! Hatched Chicks are turning unhatched eggs

[JayUmmelVT]

What should we do?
We have 28 eggs in the Little Giant incubator and they are starting to hatch. We laid them all out on their sides at day 18, but the first three hatched are bouncing all over the place disrupting the other eggs. One was actively pipping and then the egg got turned over by the hatched chicks and now we see no movement in that one. Meanwhile many other eggs are starting to pip and will surely get bounced around as well. We have the brooder box all warmed up and ready, should we start moving the live chicks out. Its been less than 5 hours since they hatched and they aren't as dry as I think they should be. What about turning off the light in the room, would that cause things to settle down?
Thanks so much,
jay

 

[faykokoWV]

I've done three hatches so far and what i've learned is

1. They play soccer with each other until they hatch
2. DON'T OPEN THE INCUBATOR!

If you open it, all your humidity is gone and any eggs that have pipped.. their membranes will shrink down and the chicks will not be able to hatch. Let them get kicked around. They will be fine. Turning off the light and not shinning the flashlight in will help them calm down some.

 

[JayUmmelVT]

Thanks for responding so quickly. I have just turned off the lights and will check again in an hour or so. I know I am unexperienced and all, but its gotta be hell for a hatching chick who had worked to get out the top of the shell suddenly get flipped over. But I guess it happens in the nest as well as the bator eh?
thanks,
Jay

 

[faykokoWV]

I know! Its so hard to watch them get kicked around.. and the ones that have hatched seem so pitiful running all around and flopping every where. I suppose the momma hen would sit on them and they wouldn't run like that. I think hearing the hatch mates chirping motivates the unhatched to get out faster though lol.