Need hatching advice

[LuciferRoo]

Incubating for the second time. My first was two years ago. With dumb beginner's luck, my first attempt was 100% successful. 12 eggs resulted in 12 chicks. First time around, when I saw a chick hatch, I removed it and placed it in a brooding box. Also removed the egg shells.

This time, I had 2 chicks hatch on day 19.
It was a surprise, so I asked ChatGPT about it, and it told me I should not remove the chicks until the hatching is complete.

What is the expert opinion here?
Remove them as they hatch or wait until Alp hatch?

One side note. I am having a bit of an issue with humidity. I cannot seem to get it right.
The incubator is a 12 egg Kebonnixs.
It has electronic temperature control, which works great but manual humidity control.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I hatch tons and would never in a million years have time to be removing chicks. Plus, removing the first couple of chicks is opening the incubator, so the humidity takes a dive. That can sometimes cause any others trying to get out to shrink wrap. I just leave them all in there until they've all hatched.

Once I take them out and one seems a bit weak or perhaps splayed legs, I put them back in for another 12-24 hours. Many times, that's all they needed.

Humidity will spike while they are hatching. That's okay. If it gets up into the 90s, I crack a side for a couple of seconds, then crack the other side for a couple of seconds. That'll help a bit, but it will come down as the chicks and the shells dry off.

 

[Anon112]

The sound and movement of chicks hatching helps others to hatch. And with the yolk they absorbed, they don't need food or water for well over a full day.

 

[Debbie292d]

The sound and movement of chicks hatching helps others to hatch. And with the yolk they absorbed, they don't need food or water for well over a full day.

Two other good points!