Help!!!

[a teacher chick]

I'm using a mini advance incubator. Last night I had 3 chickens hatch and at least two had pipped so I left the incubator alone. One of those that had pipped looked a little dry around the membrane but since I could see his beak and hear it chirping and it had only been a few hours I left it over night. This morning a fourth has hatched. I know you shouldnt open the incu ator but because it is so small I wonder if I should take the 4 chicks out. I also can no longer see the pip on the egg Im worried about due to the four chicks. Its really tight in there but i dont want to hurt any of the chicks in eggs. What should I do?

 

[eggbert420]

If the 4 chicks are dry, I personally would take them out. Others may feel different about this but that's what I would do.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I'm using a mini advance incubator. Last night I had 3 chickens hatch and at least two had pipped so I left the incubator alone. One of those that had pipped looked a little dry around the membrane but since I could see his beak and hear it chirping and it had only been a few hours I left it over night. This morning a fourth has hatched. I know you shouldnt open the incu ator but because it is so small I wonder if I should take the 4 chicks out. I also can no longer see the pip on the egg Im worried about due to the four chicks. Its really tight in there but i dont want to hurt any of the chicks in eggs. What should I do?

I am a Hands-off-hatcher so if your set-up was mine---I would leave it closed till after all have hatched---or day 22. Them being close in my opinion hurts Nothing. I leave mine closed because of past experience I found keeping it closed increased my hatching % tremendously. Then you have hands-on-hatchers with experience on what and when to do---that have good hatch rates. Again--them being close for a day or two does not hurt anything in my hatching experience. They would be close under their mom if she brooded them.

 

[a teacher chick]

What about the one I can no longer see that looked like the membrane was dry? It hasnt quite been 24 hours so wait till then?

 

[eggbert420]

I would wet it with a q-tip. While I was taking the other chicks out.

 

[a teacher chick]

Its fine! Sometime between when I checked on them and then woke back up that one hatched! I don't see more pipping but in case another one starts how long can they stay in the incubator? My manual said no more than 24 hours.

 

[Chicken Chat]

Is your mini the one with the humidity pump with it? If so, I have found those come back up to hatching % rather quickly. If not, you can throw a bit of wet sponge inside as you take the chicks out to get the humidity up quick for the ones left. I personally remove the babies when they are dry, especially if I don't see a zip in progress. If zipping, I wait. It's really up to you. Do what you feel comfortable with. Congrats on the fuzzies!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

If the 4 chicks are dry, I personally would take them out. Others may feel different about this but that's what I would do.

Its fine! Sometime between when I checked on them and then woke back up that one hatched! I don't see more pipping but in case another one starts how long can they stay in the incubator? My manual said no more than 24 hours.

I'm with Eggbert. I'd take them out. I remove mine as they become active in the bator. I won't leave them in more than 12 hours, and that's usually only night hatchers. Most of mine aren't in there more than a couple hours. I believe chicks should have access to water and feed within the first 24 hours.

 

[a teacher chick]

I'm with Eggbert. I'd take them out. I remove mine as they become active in the bator. I won't leave them in more than 12 hours, and that's usually only night hatchers. Most of mine aren't in there more than a couple hours. I believe chicks should have access to water and feed within the first 24 hours.

I couldnt take any last night as there were active holes in several. I have 2 eggs unhatched. I havent seen more pips or zips but I'll check first.

 

[a teacher chick]

Is your mini the one with the humidity pump with it?  If so, I have found those come back up to hatching % rather quickly.  If not, you can throw a bit of wet sponge inside as you take the chicks out to get the humidity up quick for the ones left.  I personally remove the babies when they are dry, especially if I don't see a zip in progress.  If zipping, I wait.  It's really up to you.  Do what you feel comfortable with.  Congrats on the fuzzies!

I think so. Im not a 100 percent sure but I think it does.