LOCKING DOWN anyone joining?

[LakeBird]

One hatched so far. 2 have pipped. My first hatched egg!

 

[LakeBird]

I have read that chicks should stay in bator until dry 24-48 hours. With that being said, I assume it's OK for them to be moving around and hitting the remaining eggs?

 

[Danielle2017]

I have read that chicks should stay in bator until dry 24-48 hours. With that being said, I assume it's OK for them to be moving around and hitting the remaining eggs?

I waited until mine were dry and fluffy before removing them and taking them right into the brooder to keep them warm. I did it 'lightning fast' (LOL) and added hot water to keep my humidity up. So I only opened it enough to reach in real quick. I'm NO EXPERT at this though. This was my first time as well. Good luck and congrats!!!

 

[spikennipper]

I hope it's not too late to join! It's been great reading about all your hatches

I have 7 mixed breed chicken eggs just gone into lock down, 4 are bantam as the mum is a light Sussex bantam the other 3 are large fowl, the mum being a nice Rhode Island red. I have hatched eggs from the Sussex before but never the Rhodie so I'm excited as to how they are going to turn out! will post pics when they have hatched, they are due on Wednesday, here's dad, he's a cross between a Lohmanns and a Faverolle!

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I have read that chicks should stay in bator until dry 24-48 hours. With that being said, I assume it's OK for them to be moving around and hitting the remaining eggs?

Mine don't stay in the incubator that long. If they are up moving around and mostly fluffy I put them in the brooder. But I also have a large plastic tote as a brooder with a 100 watt bulb. One side has it 102 degrees, the other side of it is only 95 degrees. so they actually dry off faster in the brooder then they do in the incubator.

 

[LakeBird]

Mine don't stay in the incubator that long. If they are up moving around and mostly fluffy I put them in the brooder. But I also have a large plastic tote as a brooder with a 100 watt bulb. One side has it 102 degrees, the other side of it is only 95 degrees. so they actually dry off faster in the brooder then they do in the incubator.

How long do you keep them in the bator until you move them? 2 more just hatched a few minute ago. I am hoping to move them to the brooder together. I also have a plastic tote as the brooder.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

How long do you keep them in the bator until you move them? 2 more just hatched a few minute ago. I am hoping to move them to the brooder together. I also have a plastic tote as the brooder.

I leave them in just til most of their fluff is dry. If the brooder is at 102 in the hottest place of it I'll move them after 2 or 3 hours to the brooder to dry off. They dry a lot faster in the brooder then they do in the incubator because lower humidity makes it easier to dry off.

 

[LakeBird]

I leave them in just til most of their fluff is dry. If the brooder is at 102 in the hottest place of it I'll move them after 2 or 3 hours to the brooder to dry off. They dry a lot faster in the brooder then they do in the incubator because lower humidity makes it easier to dry off.

Thank you. I'm going to move them tonight. I felt bad moving the one that hatched last night and having him alone in the brooder, but now he has company!

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Thank you. I'm going to move them tonight. I felt bad moving the one that hatched last night and having him alone in the brooder, but now he has company!

How many eggs are you trying to hatch? Hopefully it's really successful. Mine was a little too successful. It was eggs that a guy put in his fridge after finding nests in his yard from his chickens. 3 dozen. Only 26 eggs made it to lock down. Out of that I figured maybe half would hatch. 19 hatched. I can own 6 hens. plus i have 2 rooster chicks and a pullet chick that are a month old.

 

[LakeBird]

How many eggs are you trying to hatch? Hopefully it's really successful. Mine was a little too successful. It was eggs that a guy put in his fridge after finding nests in his yard from his chickens. 3 dozen. Only 26 eggs made it to lock down. Out of that I figured maybe half would hatch. 19 hatched. I can own 6 hens. plus i have 2 rooster chicks and a pullet chick that are a month old.

What are you planning to do with the extras?

I wanted Blue Orpingtons - or should I say my daughter wanted blue chickens (her favorite color!), but couldn't find any locally. I did eBay. Only half of the eggs even candled. I was hoping to hatch about 10, but right now 4 hatched. Another one pipped, but with the chicks in the bator moving all the other eggs, I don't know which one that was. I am going to hatch one more set of eggs - found someone local with BBS Orpingtons. Here is a pic of my first hatchlings"