How Long can they Stay in the Bator??!!

[birdlover]

I'm hopeless, I guess. I'm stressing over Stephen's chicks who have been in the incubator for almost 24 hours (some of them). http://live.yahoo.com/stephenchickcam
I think he went somewhere yesterday before they started hatching and isn't back yet. I think he said he'd be gone for 2 days. Can chicks stay in the incubator for over 24 hours. I believe I read somewhere they can be in the incubator for up to 48 hours. Is this right?

 

[perfectly_polish]

They should be fine. Chicks absorb their yolk before they hatch, so that gives them nutrients for about 3 days. I've left chicks in the 'bator for 2 days, until the hatch finished and they were all fine and healthy. Good luck!

 

[Katy]

They should be fine, but personally I'd never time a hatch so that I was going to be gone. I don't think it's very responsible animal ownership.

 

[SterlingAcres]

Quote:
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[birdlover]

Okay, I guess. They aren't MY eggs/chicks; I'm just observing on the chick cam. I was more worried about they're getting too hot with nothing to drink. I know they can go without food for a couple of days. Darn it!!! Get home, Stephen!!! (Told you I'm hopeless

).

 

[Akane]

I've been told 3 days. I had one in the incubator for 24hrs because it hatched really early and I didn't want to open it until the others pipped.

I ended up leaving on day 17 of incubating and if I had time I would have setup a webcam and given someone online my number to call if they saw anything. I did get back before the first one finished hatching.