Opening the incubator after hatching starts

[Jellybean11]

Hey you guys, I was wondering what would be the longest you would leave hatchlings in the incubator? I had some start hatching new years day but I still have many eggs left that are starting to pip or that I'm not ready to call it quits on yet. Would I be doing harm by opening the lid to take out the hatchlings that have been in there longest. Or to put food and water and leave them all in together... The oldest of them have already had close to 36 hours since birth... Thanks for your answers and a happy new year

 

[nuthatched]

Take them out once dry to put in the brooder.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A healthy chick can go over 72 hours without eating or drinking after hatch. They absorb the yolk and can live off of that for at least 72 hours. So you do not have to take them out yet.

Some people blindly open the incubator at any time. Most of the time this does not cause a problem but occasionally it can. If the humidity drops too low it is possible for the membrane that surrounds the chick to shrink around it so tightly that the chick cannot move to hatch. This is called shrink-wrap.

I'm aware that a chick can get shrink-wrapped, I've had a couple do that. So I do not open the incubator until the hatch is over unless I have a reason. If I have an emergency inside the incubator I'll open it, handle the emergency, and take my chances with shrink-wrap. I consider it good practice to avoid unnecessary risks. But if I have a reason I will take that risk.