Opening bator during hatch?

[RodNTN]

Hi! I have 18 eggs in the incubator right now. Today is day 20. 13 (possibly more- I can't see them all) have already pipped and are chirping. If these hatch early, and the rest don't hatch until tomorrow, can I move the already hatched chicks to the brooder without harming the unhatched chicks? Will it cause them to shrink wrap? My humidity is good, I have two sponges in the incubator. I read somewhere that you can open in up and give the eggs a quick spray with water or throw in a wet paper towel? I don't know if the paper towel will be necessary since I already have the sponges.

Any answers will be greatly appreciated!
@WVduckchick @BantyChooks @ronott1

 

[Rose Quartz]

Hi! I have 18 eggs in the incubator right now. Today is day 20. 13 (possibly more- I can't see them all) have already pipped and are chirping. If these hatch early, and the rest don't hatch until tomorrow, can I move the already hatched chicks to the brooder without harming the unhatched chicks? Will it cause them to shrink wrap? My humidity is good, I have two sponges in the incubator. I read somewhere that you can open in up and give the eggs a quick spray with water or throw in a wet paper towel? I don't know if the paper towel will be necessary since I already have the sponges.

Any answers will be greatly appreciated!
@WVduckchick @BantyChooks @ronott1

If no other eggs have pipped when you take them out there shouldn't be a problem. I always take my hatched chicks out but the way I have my incubator set up I can cover the opening around my arm with a damp towel and not loose humidity.

 

[lazy gardener]

No. Don't spray them! If you need to open the bator to snatch babies and empty shells, just do it quickly. But, unless things are super crowded, your best practice will be to leave them alone until the end of the hatch. Chicks were created to go 48 hours from hatch to first feeding to allow late comers to hatch so they can all leave the nest at the same time.

 

[RodNTN]

If no other eggs have pipped when you take them out there shouldn't be a problem. I always take my hatched chicks out but the way I have my incubator set up I can cover the opening around my arm with a damp towel and not loose humidity.

Okay, thanks! I'll try the towel idea!

 

[RodNTN]

No. Don't spray them! If you need to open the bator to snatch babies and empty shells, just do it quickly. But, unless things are super crowded, your best practice will be to leave them alone until the end of the hatch. Chicks were created to go 48 hours from hatch to first feeding to allow late comers to hatch so they can all leave the nest at the same time.

I wasn't going to spray them I was just wondering if anyone had ever tried that. So I can leave hatched chicks in the incubator for up to a day?

 

[lazy gardener]

You can leave them for 2 days! Congrats!

 

[RodNTN]

You can leave them for 2 days! Congrats!

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

^x2! It is sooooo tempting to get them out but why risk your unhatched eggs if they can be in there 2 days? I wouldn't open the 'bator until the rest are out, unless they seem overcrowded.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'll go against the grain and say that I take mine out several times during a hatch, if I have quite a few. I do it when there is a break in the action, and only after they are up and walking well.
BUT, my incubator recovers humidity very quickly. I take them out quickly (and carefully).
A recent hatch of 20, I think I removed in 3 or 4 groups; 4 or 5 chicks at a time. Still had 100% hatch. (20 big eggs laying down in an Octagon 20 is quite crowded!)

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

@WVduckchick We are so lucky having these bators hey? Do you have the humidity pump with yours? LOVE mine! We are in better shape to open than most people I reckon.