How long to leave hatched chicks in incubator?

[aschaul10]

Hello all, new to the forums here! I had a question regarding my first batch of chicks that just started hatching yesterday. How long can I leave a hatched chick in the incubator before moving to the brooder? I am just curious because I know it is not a good thing to open up the incubator at ll during lockdown or when they are hatching. The couple of chicks that hatched yesterday were a day and a half early, so should I let them in the incubator with the other eggs and chicks untill they are all done hatching, which could be 4 or 5 days. How do you guys go about removing chicks from the incubator and not opening the incubator and messing up the hatching?

Thanks!

 

[feedman77]

I usually remove them when they are dry and fluffy.

But you can leave them theoretically for 3 days if needed. They can live that long off the yolk sac.

But the soccer they play with other eggs bugs me a little.

 

[feedman77]

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hello all, new to the forums here! I had a question regarding my first batch of chicks that just started hatching yesterday. How long can I leave a hatched chick in the incubator before moving to the brooder? I am just curious because I know it is not a good thing to open up the incubator at ll during lockdown or when they are hatching. The couple of chicks that hatched yesterday were a day and a half early, so should I let them in the incubator with the other eggs and chicks untill they are all done hatching, which could be 4 or 5 days. How do you guys go about removing chicks from the incubator and not opening the incubator and messing up the hatching?

Thanks!

When to move chicks is a personal decision. Many hatchers will not move them until the hatch is done. These are normally the hands off hatchers that swear you should not open the bator after lockdown. Then there are those that wait until the chicks are dry and fluffy-or at least dry-before they remove them. Lastly there are those of us that remove them sooner. I remove my chicks as they become active and start running around. If that is half an hour after hatch or 2 hours it depends on the chick. I keep my humidity at 70/75% at least and no, I don't have anything bad happen because I opened my bator.

I do not subscribe to the three day theory of not eating. I prefer my chicks to have electrolyte enhanced water and food available for when they are ready.

 

[aschaul10]

When to move chicks is a personal decision. Many hatchers will not move them until the hatch is done. These are normally the hands off hatchers that swear you should not open the bator after lockdown. Then there are those that wait until the chicks are dry and fluffy-or at least dry-before they remove them. Lastly there are those of us that remove them sooner. I remove my chicks as they become active and start running around. If that is half an hour after hatch or 2 hours it depends on the chick. I keep my humidity at 70/75% at least and no, I don't have anything bad happen because I opened my bator.

I do not subscribe to the three day theory of not eating. I prefer my chicks to have electrolyte enhanced water and food available for when they are ready.

So even if there are other chicks pipping, you will still remove hatched chicks?

 

[feedman77]

I will remove chicks or assist some that need a little help while others are pipped.

Like Amy stated it's a personal decision. Just do whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So even if there are other chicks pipping, you will still remove hatched chicks?

Me, yes, I do. I open frequently during my hatches. It's not something that everyone is comfortable with and that's ok. But not all of us are hands off. Many of us don't actually go into "lockdown" per se. For us, day 18 is just the day we candle, mark the air cells for the last time and up the humidity. (And stop turning if you turn till day 18.) My motto is "FInd what works for you, what you are comfortable with and go with that."

I've never had a pipper/zipper not hatch. I've never had a chick "shrinkwrap" from opening the bator. But I have had chicks get hurt in the bator because there were a good amount in there climbing on the thermometers and pushing each other off. I have had chicks get hurt on the dumb fan for the LG 9200 because it has no guard. For me, I am more comfortable having them in the brooder with lots of room and food/water available. And dispite the fact that egg soccer is not supposed to hurt the other hatching chicks, I don't like it.

Now, I will add, the sounds of the hatchers do motivate the others. Not only is my bator mere feet from the brooder I also play videos of chicks chirping at the bator for motivation.

 

[Selga]

Me, yes, I do. I open frequently during my hatches. It's not something that everyone is comfortable with and that's ok. But not all of us are hands off. Many of us don't actually go into "lockdown" per se. For us, day 18 is just the day we candle, mark the air cells for the last time and up the humidity. (And stop turning if you turn till day 18.) My motto is "FInd what works for you, what you are comfortable with and go with that."

I've never had a pipper/zipper not hatch. I've never had a chick "shrinkwrap" from opening the bator. But I have had chicks get hurt in the bator because there were a good amount in there climbing on the thermometers and pushing each other off. I have had chicks get hurt on the dumb fan for the LG 9200 because it has no guard. For me, I am more comfortable having them in the brooder with lots of room and food/water available. And dispite the fact that egg soccer is not supposed to hurt the other hatching chicks, I don't like it.

Now, I will add, the sounds of the hatchers do motivate the others. Not only is my bator mere feet from the brooder I also play videos of chicks chirping at the bator for motivation.

Couldn't agree more. I always remove chicks as soon as they are dry because I just don't like that egg soccer and mess of empty shells. I have not ever seen a shrink wrapped chick. To me - if the egg is pipped, it hatches - with rare exceptions that are not caused by humidity loss.

 

[Silkies4Life1216]

So even if there are other chicks pipping, you will still remove hatched chicks?

No!! Never remove chicks if others are pipping. It’s like doing seasection to twins when one is already coming out! That can harm the chick that is hatching!

 

[cannon6]

I have a batch of 15 eggs. 5 have hatches and others are pipping. Can I leave the 5 in the incubator until the rest are done hatching? They are dry and hatched about 12 hours prior. I'm just wondering if I can leave them in there another day or so until the others are ready?