Its my first time with hatching chicks. I had one come bust out of the shell this morning, how long do I keep them in the incubator? I dont want to pull them out each time one hatches and mess up the temp and humidity in there.. can anyone lend any advice as to how long to keep them in the incubator after fully hatching? Thanks Nate
I'm new to incubating, but everything I have read says to let them dry well. They can stay in there for 1-2 days until the rest have hatched. Most chicks do okay up to 3 days without food or water (since they ship them in the mail) but I wouldn't let them go more than 2 days.
I'm hatching today, also. Lots of peeping coming from the incubator room!!! Just leave them in there until they all hatch and fluff out for up to three days, although I usually do a quick grab late on the second day if there are no pips or movement on any remaining unhatched eggs. I would be very hesitant to open the incubator while any eggs are showing signs of imminent hatching. I have never lost one of my hatched chicks, and never had one die from shrink-wrapping. Best thing to do is to leave them alone to do their thing. I do LOVE to go in (frequently) to see the progress - seven out of nineteen have hatched today so far!
thanks for the heads up. Ill leave them in there for now. Cant wait to get home from work and see if anymore have made it out yet. It was my first hatch so i wasnt expecting too much of a success rate.
I have had several hatches. Let me share my philosophy: ANY successfully hatched chick is a miracle. Two hatched is fantastic, and more hatched is just wonderful. I am never disappointed if I get a live chick. I love coming home, or waking up to hatched chicks in my incubator(s). I don't mind if I have spent money on a dozen or more hatching eggs. A live chick is a miracle; more of them are more miracles.
thanks for your reply.... woke up this morning and walked in to look at the bator, and got to witness one breaking out and coming out of the shell! that was awesome to see! so far i have 3 hatched and 2 more pipped. one question i have, i have left them in the bator for now, but i do notice that 2 seem to have their "umbilical" coard still attched. is this going to just dry up and fall off? thanks for the input guys! very exciting hatch for our first time. and these are the eggs that my hens have laid.
They will eventually dry and fall off. Just keep your eye on them and make sure they don't get snagged on something. Congrats on the babies
so a total of 5 chicks hatched. was a very exciting experience and cannot wait to set more eggs again. Unfortunately i woke up this morning and one had died, and looks like one more might not make it either, which leaves me with 3. sad but very pleased with any sucessful hatches as it was my first time trying it.
