My first hatch

[NakPakChick]

Is a success!!!

I found two of em stumbling around when I got home at 2am, and the 3rd hatched around 2:45. I've got 5 more pipped in the bator, couple of em are rocking around pretty good.

I put them in the container (which I warmed up in the microwave) to contain them a bit. I didn't realize that the chicks would be so....active in the bator, before they are dry. They have since escaped the container and are once again bashing and crashing into all the other eggs. I won't be going to bed until these 3 are dry, and it's 4 am now!

It's my understanding that they don't need to eat right away? But I should still dip beaks into the water and food when they get into the brooder?

You guys have been such a huge help, I've spent hours on here reading. Thank you!!

 

[jerseygirl1]

Can I ask, what did you have your humidity set at for days one thru 17, then 18 til hatch?
I am not having a good hatch, and I know it's because of my humidty
THanks
Congrats on your hatch!!!!!!!!!

 

[NakPakChick]

I don't have a hygrometer thingy, so I have no idea! But I did add another bowl/pan of water, a sponge, and have been spraying warm water into it through the larger vent holes. We had a 3 hour power outage on day 14, so honestly I'm thrilled to have these 3! I had 20 eggs that made it this far- the three that have hatched, 5 pipped. and 12 to anxiously watch.

 

[NakPakChick]

As of 10 am I have 7 chicks! I'm soooo exicited! I have two zipping and peeping at the moment, and who knows how many pipping because three chicks drying in the bator are playing bumper cars with the eggs. I've moved the 4 dry chicks to the brooder box. I also have 2 royal palm turkey poults in the brooder, so it was nice and warm.


Update!! Egg # 8 just popped out, and he's the 8th chick hatched. A lucky bird for sure!

 

[chickencoop13]

great!!

 

[NakPakChick]

It's a quarter after 3pm, and I now have 9 chicks out, 1 zipping and one pipped. They are soo cute!

 

[NakPakChick]

We're up to 10 little guys, so I have an official hatch rate of 50%.

For my first time through this whole thing, I'm over the moon.

There are a few more pipped, the fun isn't over yet.

 

[mags2009]

Did you have the eggs shipped?

 

[NakPakChick]

No, these are from my girls. Rhode Island Reds and Gold Sex links. A neighbor gave us a roo last fall, a brown leghorn. The neighbor's dog got him last week, so other than the 6 eggs I have saved to try again, these little guys will be all I get for now! So I'm really excited that it's all going so smoothly.

I had set 25, had 20 make it this far, and I hope to get most of the 20 to hatch.

 

[babsbag]

Quote:
I ran my humidity between 65-75%.

I know that those with more experience than me say NOT to open the incubator, but I did, more than once, to take out some little "eggball" players and make holders for the 4 eggs that were left. I had a 90% hatch rate and the one that didn't hatch looked as if it had been a quitter before it ever went into lockdown. I have only done one hatch, but want to do another one. But I don't need any more chickens

I also misted the inside of the incubator with warm water when I would open it. Not directly onto the eggs, but the mist did fall on them. That kept the humidity up when I opened it. My incubator is small so the temp was not an issue as it warms up really quickly.