How long can chicks stay in the incubator

[Ncfarm828]

I see so many answers on this.
Today is day 20 and all of the chicks minus 2 have hatched. The first one hatched around eight in the morning, and they have continued to hatch throughout the day. How long can I leave them in there before I open it to transfer them to the Brooder? Most of them are dry, I had two just hatch within the last hour.

Second question, can I move the hatched chicks to the brooder and leave the two other eggs that have not hatched in there ..to see if they’re just taking a little longer?

 

[nuthatched]

They can spend a few days in there but you can scoop the hatched chicks out.

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh, how cute!

They can live 72 hours before needing food/water as they're still absorbing their yolk. That's how hatcheries can ship day-old chicks that take two days to reach the market.

I'd wait at least a few hours until those last two that hatched are up, fuzzy, and mobile. Then I'd take them out and candle those last two eggs. If you're still unsure, I'd leave the eggs in the incubator for another 24 hours.

 

[Tex452]

I get mine out when they are good and dry, 24 hours, especially when they are crowded, I never had any problems with shrink wrap.

 

[Ncfarm828]

I get mine out when they are good and dry, 24 hours, especially when they are crowded, I never had any problems with shrink wrap.

Never-mind my message below, the last chick is starting to peck through. I’m going to wait until it hatches. Tomorrow morning at 8 would make 24 hours for the first one hatched.

Okay, so most of them hatched minus one egg. Should I wait until tomorrow morning, this way I can keep an eye on them in the brooder or transfer them tonight?

 

[MROO]

Okay, so most of them hatched minus one egg. Should I wait until tomorrow morning, this way I can keep an eye on them in the brooder or transfer them tonight?

If everybody's dry and mobile, go ahead and move them. If the last egglet doesn't hatch by morning, go ahead and candle it. Take note of how the egg is positioned in the 'bator before you pick it up, though. If it's a quitter you can toss it. If it still looks viable, you'll need to put back in the exact same position it was in, because it will have already situated itself for hatching.
Personally, I leave "pending" eggs in a couple of extra days. Like most babies, each egg's actual arrival in the Great Big World can vary a bit. Some just seem to have a mind ... and a schedule ... all their own!

 

[Ncfarm828]

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If everybody's dry and mobile, go ahead and move them. If the last egglet doesn't hatch by morning, go ahead and candle it. Take note of how the egg is positioned in the 'bator before you pick it up, though. If it's a quitter you can toss it. If it still looks viable, you'll need to put back in the exact same position it was in, because it will have already situated itself for hatching.
Personally, I leave "pending" eggs in a couple of extra days. Like most babies, each egg's actual arrival in the Great Big World can vary a bit. Some just seem to have a mind ... and a schedule ... all their own!

surprisingly, almost everyone hatched and the final egg shows signs of one pecking through! I’m going to wait until tomorrow morning, hopefully it’ll hatch by then. That’ll make 24 hours from the first one that hatched.