How soon can we hold new chicks?

[opallady]

We have eggs that are ready to hatch. We have one that just hatched today. I know that they can stay in the incubator for 48 hours and be fine. I was wondering if it was actually harmful to open the incubator and pick them up just after they have hatched, as long as we are really slow and gentle. Or is it better to just let them be, until they decide to start walking around. We are so excited and I wanted to talk to it, and sing to it, and hold it. Please tell me how soon we can hold them. Thanks!!

 

[Mahonri]

Make certain that all of the other eggs have hatched.. OR you can take them out after 24 hours if you are quick about it and help the late hatchers with a little extra humidity in the bator.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I personally don't pick my chicks up or take them out of the bator until they are dry. I only hold them for a minute to inspect them before putting them in the brooder to get nice and toasty. After they're 24 hours old though, they're gonna get snorgled whether they like it or not!!!

 

[FenDruadin]

Let them at least get dry and fluffy. Best to wait at least 24 hours, so as not to compromise the other eggs still hatching--I know from sad experience that you can kill babies in the shell by compromising the humidity in the incubator. I know it's hard!!

BUT--you can still sing to them.

My 19-month-old toddler knows that when you look inside the incubator, the "thing to do" is to say "cheep cheep cheep cheep" in an encouraging tone. And he does so. Enthusiastically. Even when the eggs have only just gone in!

 

[HBuehler]

I personally remove mine after a few hours...once they are up and walking well and pretty dry unless I have several pips then I will wait so I can grab out as many as possible.I have not lost the other eggs by doing so.I opened mine twice yesterday and the last few eggs just hatched.
My lockdown target is 73% it's what works here for us to get a great hatch.I lure the chicks to an edge that has the least amount of eggs near the opening...open just enough to squeeze my hand in and get the chick while my kids mist the opening. It has not dropped any humidity by doing this.
I don't allow them to be handled until they are a day old though.My kids will touch them a little as we carry them to the playpen-my chicks don't have a brooder..sounds frumpy

mine play
They can survive for a few days without food and water but a non stop chirping chick is stressed and stress is never good.If they are chirping a lot they need out with food and water.
Just completed my second 100% that made it to lockdown hatch this morning

this week-first one all made it from day 1.