It has begun!!! 1st Time

[aart]

Any worries about reaching in and removing them while others are pipping and zipping?

Just do it quickly so as not to lose too much humidity.
Many say never open the bator, but many do so regularly.
I always crank the heat in the bator room during hatch
Have you read the assisting hatch article....got some oil ready in case you need to moisten membranes?

 

[RoosterML]

They are pretty much staying over the hot spot and one curious one ventured out so far. Has only been about 10 minutes. I moved 5

 

[aart]

I like to leave a couple chicks in bator to cheer on the hatching ones.
Move them only when they start getting too rowdy.
Always try moving them in groups of at least 2.

Can you easily lift the top of heater to see what's going on under there?
IIRC the heating pad is on the bottom, and the top is not heated, correct?

 

[RoosterML]

I like to leave a couple chicks in bator to cheer on the hatching ones.
Move them only when they start getting too rowdy.
Always try moving them in groups of at least 2.

Can you easily lift the top of heater to see what's going on under there?
IIRC the heating pad is on the bottom, and the top is not heated, correct?

I moved 5 and left 2 wetter ones in.
I can easily lift the top but i don't really need to. I can just lift the towel and I see pretty well inside.
Correct heat from bottom. Top is just to create a hide out and block drafts.
They either all died at once or they are good with it taking a nap.
I do have the pad on high and think I'll keep it that way for a couple days.

 

[aart]

I can easily lift the top but i don't really need to. I can just lift the towel and I see pretty well inside.

You'll need to clean under there......and I've had to fetch a couple of corpses.

 

[RoosterML]

You'll need to clean under there......and I've had to fetch a couple of corpses.

Yep, at first that was a concern on if it would be easy or not to keep clean. Now instead of having to rake out dirty chips I will just lift up remove shirt discard and lay down a new shirt. Easy peasy

 

[aart]

Any more pips/zips/pops???
Are your kids enthralled?

 

[Kiki]

I moved 5 and left 2 wetter ones in.
I can easily lift the top but i don't really need to. I can just lift the towel and I see pretty well inside.
Correct heat from bottom. Top is just to create a hide out and block drafts.
They either all died at once or they are good with it taking a nap.
I do have the pad on high and think I'll keep it that way for a couple days.

High might be too hot.
I use a heating pad on low for quail.

 

[RoosterML]

Four now in the Bator with the one under fan about to pop. Others but 2 so far have pips.
Only problem is the Delawares and Rhode Island Whites are hatching together so now I can't tell what is what.

 

[RoosterML]

Enjoying the new digs!

This one is nearly black everything