It is getting really crowded in the bator.. what to do?

[megnchicks]

OK, so at lockdown time I had 35 eggs (5 being questionable). Eggs started to hatch yesterday morning and by bedtime we had 10 hatched chicks. I woke up about an hour ago and we had a lot more in there. I think 2 more have hatched since I woke up as well. I know I am not suppose to open the bator to remove the chicks or anything but what am I suppose to do with it being so crowded in there? Can I open it quickly and grab the egg shells to open up some room? I am worried about the chicks that have not hatched though if I do that. I honestly don't know how many unhatched eggs are left.

Megan

 

[birds4me]

I would. Just plan your actions so that you limit the time that your bator is open. Personally I pull chicks shortly after they hatch along with their shells. The babies go in the brooder and the shells go in the trash. I have not had any problems with doing this. Everyone seems to have opinions on how and what to do when it is hatching time. I think it is a personal preference and to do what you feel comfortable with and get good results. If you pull the shells AND the babies then I would just mist the remaining eggs with a little bit of warm water. This is what I do and have had great results with no problems with the unhatched eggs.

Good luck and enjoy your new fuzzies!

 

[kstaven]

The correct answer to this is Buy a bigger incubator for next time.

Seriously though: I wouldn't think twice about grabbing the older drier ones out of the incubator and moving them.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
I would not risk opening some bators (like styrobators) since they take long time coming back to humidity. And late hatchling tend to dry in shells even more.

If your eggs would fit in the bator, your hatchling will too.

Ever seen picture shots of commercial hatchery tray? (Boiling with newborn chicks)

 

[duckyfromoz]

Yesterday I had only two ducklings from 10 hatched - but they wanted out of there. So cute seeing the little fellow sitting there tapping his bill on the glass as if he was telling me he wanted to come meet the big wide world. Only one egg left to go and its in there all on its own now... I do take the hatched ones who are fluffed up out of the bator once they start running amok and turning over the eggs still trying to hatch. Once the majority are fairly well along to hatching or hatched- removing a few of the more active ones is sometimes necessary. Sounds like you had a great hatch... Well done!!!!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Get you a spray bottle. Adjust it to a fine mist. Open the box, take out the dry and fluffy chicks, mist everything inside lightly, then close it back up. The humidity will come back to where it should be in a few minutes.

This "lockdown" thing is not absolute. So long as you can get the humidity back to where it should be fairly quickly it's OK to open the box to take out the chicks that are ready to come out.

 

[megnchicks]

I think we are going to let them sit tight for the rest of the day and get the brooder ready. I want to make sure the temp is regulated before I put the little fluff butts in there. A few of them want out and pick at the window area but for now they will just have to wait.

Is it normal to smell a little inside the bator? I have noticed a slight odor coming out of the vent holes when I check on them.

Megan

 

[Rammy]

Ive had no problem either reaching into the bator quickly and grabbing the dry chicks. I just open it enough to reach in and quickly grab them and put them in the brooder. I have 20 eggs still viable right now until I candle them again next Sunday. I should know by then how many may hatch. But you never know until they do<g>.

Rammy

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
There is a certain funk that develops as the eggs hatch so that's normal. Just so long as it doesn't smell rotten.