Newbie and my first chick hatched. What now?

[happymom99]

Hi there. I’m on day 19 and one just hatched. She is chirping and crawling around the other eggs. The chick version of the umbilical cord is still attached to the egg.

What do I do now? From what I’ve read online, I leave her until she is fully dry. But when does she need water? And food?

When do I open up one of the plugged holes for more ventilation? I’m nervous about that because I’m having a hard time already maintaining the 70-75% humidity, and that is with the holes plugged.

How long do they take to dry? If others wait until day 21 to hatch, should I put this one in the brooder alone or wait until she has a friend?

Thank you for your help! I know it is a lot of questions.

 

[Wezdin]

They will be fine for at last 2 days without food or water, let him in there for a while, not 2 days, and he will be fine.
What is the umbilical cord thing you are talking about? Could you post a picture of it please, chicks shouldn't be attached to the egg when they come out.
As for the holes, as far as I now you want the humidity to stay pretty high throughout hatch.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

You need to take out the plugs for air supply. The chick is fine, I'd take it out when another chick hatches and dries so it has a buddy. If another one doesn't hatch within the next 18 hours I'd take it out and give it a mirror to look at so it thinks another chick is with it.

 

[happymom99]

You need to take out the plugs for air supply. The chick is fine, I'd take it out when another chick hatches and dries so it has a buddy. If another one doesn't hatch within the next 18 hours I'd take it out and give it a mirror to look at so it thinks another chick is with it.

Another one has hatched now!!

 

[happymom99]

They will be fine for at last 2 days without food or water, let him in there for a while, not 2 days, and he will be fine.
What is the umbilical cord thing you are talking about? Could you post a picture of it please, chicks shouldn't be attached to the egg when they come out.
As for the holes, as far as I now you want the humidity to stay pretty high throughout hatch.

It detached now. Maybe it was just some of the albumen or something. She is walking around and. Has a buddy now too.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

When you do take chicks out, do it as fast as you can safely and get the lid back on so your humidity isn't lost.

 

[aart]

It detached now. Maybe it was just some of the albumen or something. She is walking around and. Has a buddy now too.

Hatching gunk.
Just leave them be for now.
Get your brooder ready.
I leave them in until they are fully dry and getting to rowdy in bator.
I remove them in groups of at least 2 and often leave one in bator to cheer on the other eggs.