I'm trying lockdown... need reassurance.

[reyecat]

so I want to wait until tonight to take out the hatched chicks... but that will be in the 48 hr range. It feels like a long time for the first little one to be in the hatcher. will it be okay?

I know they say 24-72 hours after hatch they're fine without food and water but that's a huge range ...

Also the older ones are pretty rambunctious... kicking eggs around and pecking at the ones that were just hatched...

AAAHHH!

 

[feedman77]

It's your choice. But I take most out of incubator when they are fully dry and fluffy.

Chicken soccer kinda worries me.

 

[reyecat]

It's your choice. But I take most out of incubator when they are fully dry and fluffy.

Chicken soccer kinda worries me

I've been reading so much that people's hatch rates are better with lockdown...

I'm so torn.

I want better hatch rates but I don't like all the extra shells and movement in there.

I mean, Momma Hen takes out the shells and also sits on them so they're not so rambunctious.

 

[feedman77]

I run 65 to 70 percent humidity for lock down.

I don't worry to much about it.

Remove chicks when dry. Or assist a chick if it's having issues. And remove hatched chicks shells.

But I have tendency to be a little hands on.

Most is what you get comfortable with.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

It's your choice. But I take most out of incubator when they are fully dry and fluffy.

Chicken soccer kinda worries me.

Xs 2

I run 65 to 70 percent humidity for lock down.

I don't worry to much about it.

Remove chicks when dry. Or assist a chick if it's having issues. And remove hatched chicks shells.

But I have tendency to be a little hands on.

Most is what you get comfortable with.

And again...xs 2 lol

I can't stand having shells in the bator, plus removing them keeps it from getting as gunky in there!

 

[reyecat]

How do you prevent excess moisture loss?

any tips on that?

last time I did the more hand's on 4 little ones got shrink wrapped.



I got them out safely but still... I'm now very worried about that too.

 

[feedman77]

Some have a bottle of warm water to mist the eggs lightly after they open the bator.

Have a towel,cloth, or sponge in warm water set in bator.

These should bring the humidity up rapidly and help you maintain.

 

[reyecat]

I did a warm damp towel over the opening that I would lift aside...

broke down and took out the 14 that were in there.

then I crumpled up the warm damp towel and put it on the bottom of the 'bator.

 

[WillowC]

Sounds like a good plan, that's a lot of babies to be running around.