Question about hatching.....

[Hoosiermomma]

Thanks...keep us posted.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Okay so this is what I did and I hope I didn't jeopardize the other egg's chance to hatch. I put some of that rubber shelf liner in the bottom of a small cottage cheese container and put the chick in it. The poor thing was flopping all over I thought it might hurt itself on the egg turner. So we'll see if and when the other egg pips....

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Next time you hatch, remove the turner at day 18. Do not worry about the humidy as in three days everything will be back to normal.

I have hatched (mistakenly) with the turner in. I did turn the thing off at a level spot.

Chciks are pretty resilient.

You really should NOT stagger a hatch. Put the eggs in on the same day, an fertilized egg can be at room temp for 5 days at least before you put it in the bater. Just keep the little side pointed down.

You are doing great.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:
Thanks......I did turn the turner off but next time I'll do as you suggested. If I remove the turner, then would I have to hand turn them still from day 18 on? Or would they be okay for the two or so days until they would hatch without turning?
It wasn't my intention to stagger hatches. It's just that the eggs that I was waiting on didn't arrive until much later than expected and in the meantime we decided to try our hand at hatching our own.

I can't wait to see if it ends up being a bo or rir. Actually the roo is a partridge rock so I can't wait to see what they look like.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Actually, one is suppose to let the eggs be still from day 18 to 21.
The chicks arrange themselves relative to the air cells.

This is why you here "pips" at about day 20. They have put thier beaks in the air cells and are telling thier mamas they are about
to zip open the egg shell.

I have watched mom hens put that egg in the very front and let
it hatch out. This way they chick does not get stuck under mom and sufficate.

It is really is a facinating process !!

Mama hens are extremly hard wired and so are the chicks.

If you see and hear a pip and a peep, you know the chick is working at zipping.

Mama hens WILL stop rolling thier eggs and just wait for the pips.

 

[happi752]

I have 2 bators. One with a auto turner in it and one without. When they go into lockdown, I will move them quickly from one to the other for hatching out.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

How soon can you move a baby chick to the brooder once it's hatched?

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Can I just use a small box with a light in it for a brooder? I have some shelf liner in the bottom of it as well.

 

[chikmagnet_09]

At day 18 take the eggs off the turner and do not turn them anymore for the remaining time, usually they will hatch on day 21. It is wise to leave the eggs until the end of day 25 just incase any late hatchers come out. A box with a light on the chicks should be good, make sure that the temp is about 95 degrees for the chicks. The liner should be good, but I use pine shavings for my chicks when they hatch. You can leave the chick in the incubator for 24 hours or even 48, but if your heating element is too close to the chicks you can remove them sooner to prevent burning. Also, it is a good idea to put some feed and water in the brooder box for the chicks....be sure to put marbles in their water dish( I have learned from my mistake on this one

). Hope I answered your questions, let me know if you have any more. Any babies yet?