My very first egg hatched over night!!!!! :)

[kiaya611]

I have 11 Brabanter Chicken eggs in my hatcher (actually a Top Hatch Incubator) and last night one of the eggs hatched right on time. I don't see any activity on any of the other eggs though.

I can't seem to get the humidity to stay at 60% or above even though I have the reservoir full and have 3 socks and 2 sponges in there.

If this chick remains alone, should I take it out once it dries out after 6 or 8 hours even though it will drop the temp and humidity?

Please let me know your thoughts on humidity and removing the chick.

Thank you,

 

[jimnjay]

I would wait for a while to remove your chick. I hop some of the others hatch as well. Humidity is tough in the Top Hatch. I think I mentioned the humidifier. Also I discovered that my hygrometer was off by 9 points. If your chick hatched ok and it seems pretty wet, then I would think you are ok. You can try placing your incubator on a very damp towel. Put a piece of plastic under the towel. That way the air that is being drawn into the bator will be more damp as well. Let us know. I would love to see photos of your Brabanters.

 

[Juliechickens]

Oh whatever you do,,,do this,,,,take my advice,,,,I learned the hard way. I too have a top hatch and couldn't get my humid tempt too high but the hatches went well as long as I DID NOTTTTTTTTT open the top. Do NOT open the top after pipping....leave that first chick in there all day and all night! If more or hatching...leave him in longer. Just open a vent or two up top and he will be fine.
If you keep opening top to rewet socks or whatever, more damage will be done and your hatch will not be as many as it could have. I learned this the hard way!!!

I enjoyed my top hatch incubator very much. It works great for hatching chicks. I have now hatched 12 sets of eggs. I've made every mistake one can make and learned so much from it all. If you have any questions,,,all this is fresh in my mind. Feel free to email me if you get into a bind or a panic.
Julie

Good luck with your new babies!

 

[kiaya611]

Hi jimnjay and Julie,

Another chick is pipping!!!!! The only time I added water was through one of the vent holes with a 60cc syringe aiming for the socks and sponges. It works quite well. I won't open the Top Hatch....and I will wait...that is HARD!!!! Now that I see another pipping though, I feel better and have some more faith that even more will hatch. This being my first time is rather nerve racking....I wonder how long it will take for all of the eggs that are going to hatch to hatch? Last night was the 21st day...so they are pretty much on schedule so far....and considering all of the problems I had with the Top Hatch's wild temperature fluctuations in the beginning and then not getting my order for my hatcher in time and having to switch eggs from one incubator to another, so far this is going well....I just need patience and let Mother Nature do Her thing

 

[mandolinmama]

Congrats on your first chick hatching! I had my first bunch hatch out this weekend too. It's such an exciting thing to watch. I spent so much time huddled with my nose pressed up against the bator window waiting and waiting. It's so awsome to hear the little peeps though the eggs and see them rocking around.
Best of luck getting more to pop out!