Lost chicks after hatch by leaving them in the incubator

its because the chicks that hatch 4 days before the 21 days died of starvation

 

IT is sad to get them to hatching point then loosing them, even if is only some and not all. You are probably right about the cause.

 

What was your humidity at? Could have been too hot and too humid. Sorry for your loss

 

I hatch chickens in my classroom each year with my students. I take my chicks out as soon as their feathers are dry and place them under a heat lamp with food and water. Maybe they didn't get food in time.

 

I ignore the 'do not open' rule. I think it works out okay for me. I'm really sorry you lost your chicks

 

I also do not follow the "do not open" rule. I keep my humidity during the last few days at 65-70% and I open the bator whenever I feel like it, within reason. I remove my hatchlings as soon as they are dry and mobile and place them in the brooder. I have had two separate 100% hatches and all other hatches have been 75% or better. Like Granny said, "If it ain't broke....."

 

Honey, i'll say this as kindly as I can.

If they hatch 4 days early it means incubation temps were high to begin with. Once the chick is out, a timer starts he has X amount of time to get fed/ and more important watered. The do not open rule means not to open to fish out each chick, not to keep them in there for days. A better plan is to fish them out when you wke in the morning, and when you have dinner each night. Any who look wet can stay inthe extra half-day with no problems, but 48 hours without water will kill any of them, especially at 103F.

 

I think the do not open rule is more for when there are chicks that have pipped. If you can see one that is pipped or zipped then you risk shrink wrapping them by changing the pressure and humidity. Usually you can just grab them really quickly with no recourse if none are pipping.