new to byc

[proudmamahope]

Hello my name is Jessica. I got chickens from tractor supply in march. Been doing pretty good with them. A friend has a farm that had chickens as well that we have been taking care of. Well I candled and got 11 that were fertilized. So I took it upon myself to make a homemade incubator out of a small tank and a heat lamp. I had my doubts. But yesterday I went in to my room and a chick was breaking its egg chirping away. I am so happy and in tears overjoyed that it worked. Now I need help. One has hatched and its been 12 hours since she was hatched. I haven't touched her but I am worried that the others won't hatch. Any advice would be greatful!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Congrats on the chick that hatched! Not all chicks hatch at the same time and some can go a day or two between hatches. Have you been candling along the way to know the others are alive? Are any of them chirping inside the eggs or rocking and rolling in the eggs?

If there is no pipping in any of the other eggs, (they poke a tiny hole or dent the outside of the shell to breathe) then you can take this little one out. Be quick about it so the humidity stays up inside the incubator.

If there IS any pipping going on, you can leave this one in the bator for another 12 hours if need be. You should never open the lid if there is pipping.

Make sure to dip the beak into the water when you put this little guy in the brooder. If by chance this is the only one to hatch, you can put in a small mirror so he sees himself and thinks he is not alone, you can put a small stuffed animal to snuggle up with or even a feather duster propped up in the corner so he can snuggle under the feathers.

Good luck and keep us posted on the hatch!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on the successful hatch! TwoCrows gave you some good suggestions, there is a nice article in the Learning Center on Hatching, about 3/4 of the way down it covers the actual hatching process with a lot of pictures. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

You've gotten good advice above. Good luck with them!

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC, Jessica! My daughter's name is Jessica as well. Glad you decided to join our flock. You've received some good advice from TwoCrows and a good link from Kelsie2290. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. What kind of chicks do you have?

 

[drumstick diva]