Ready Set Hatch! Set 3/17 Hatch 4/7 - ready now! Hatch-Along

[Dylon]

Im not trying to get ahead of myself, but I should ask before I forget: I know I should leave the chicks in until they are dry, but after they get dry, how long after that how much longer do I leave them in ??

 

[Wrightsx4]

They can remain in there two full days after hatching, but at least until they're really fluffed up. Most importantly don't open the incubator if any other eggs are pipped. The sudden loss if humidity will make the membrane stick to the chicks that haven't yet hatched. I actually am guilty of doing that. I had 14 fluffy chicks piled on top of the unhatched eggs and over my fan opening so when I was sure none of the remaining eggs had pipped & it was safe, I popped it open as little as possible and grabbed the fluffed ones out. I even spritzed a little warm water into if to help bring humidity back up quick. I missed a pip on the backside A few hours later it struggled to zip, got only a little way around and stopped. Late last night after waching it rest then struggle for about 6 hours pushing upward it gave up. Through a vent hole I tried to help push the top shell and realized it was stuck hard to the chick! It had membrane dried almost all the way around its beak and all across its head and neck. I did get it out safely but I do feel bad that I had probably caused it to almost die. Luckily the only other eggs in there at the time didn't pip yet so I could grab that egg out to help. So back to the point - leave them in there

 

[Bens-Hens]

Normally a day, or until they are dry.

Really depends on how many are in there, and how long it drags on for. If there are say five in there dry and tearing the place apart, yet still more pips and zips, some people will go in and pull the dry birds. Some like to leave one in there to encourage the others with it's chirping.

We only had 7 in there this time and the hatch was done in about a day, so they were nearly all dry together. I removed them then. I had concerns that once they had a bit of strength they may be able to reach the fan. As soon as they were dry they came out. My DIY 'bator is much higher, so that won't be an issue.

I have read though, that no matter what you see them pecking at, they don't need any water or food for up to 72 hours. Most seem to leave them 24 or so then remove them though.

I always dunk their beaks in the water when they do move to the brooder so they know where it is, but don't be surprised if you don't see them eating or drinking much to begin with. They are running of the absorbed yolk to begin with. Ours moved last night, and this morning there was only one poo visible, so it takes a bit to get all systems running. (no different to humans I guess)

In our news, not much to report, the one pip we have is a bit bigger, but nothing else new as of yet.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Beat me to it!

Sorry to hear there was trouble Pam, sometimes you need to get the dried ones out. I read after about 30 hours they are strong enough to peck wiring, and my modified fan is pretty low, something I did not want to risk. Lucky there was only 7 )

 

[Wrightsx4]

Beat me to it!

Sorry to hear there was trouble Pam, sometimes you need to get the dried ones out. I read after about 30 hours they are strong enough to peck wiring, and my modified fan is pretty low, something I did not want to risk. Lucky there was only 7 )

yeah, I was getting worried with my DIY and all the fluffballs piled around my fan. It's well caged in and netted to stop chunks of shell from falling into it but it's below the floor level during lockdown so heat wasn't getting to the other eggs well and the fan was getting full of shed down fluff. Overall I'm very pleased with how the DIY worked but the fan placement isn't ideal and I need a window wiper installed!

 

[ladyrsanti]

Here's five that hatched so far, labeled by breed. They're all our barnyard mix with one pure BO in the center. Not sure about the one on the far right, look at the dark legs! They're all adorable though. Hoping for some girls. I have two wheaten marans eggs pipped now.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Our is in the roof in both, but the Hovabator is much lower....and I am yet to make a guard. SO once they could stand up tall there was a risk,not a very big one but another day in there and they could be strong enough to reach it.

Shouldn't need it again now though.

No new pip's, although there is a bit of fluff on one shell that get's me excited every time I look

 

[Wrightsx4]

Here's five that hatched so far, labeled by breed. They're all our barnyard mix with one pure BO in the center. Not sure about the one on the far right, look at the dark legs! They're all adorable though. Hoping for some girls. I have two wheaten marans eggs pipped now.

ooh- buff orp roo = sexlinks with the BR and SLW... the one on far right doesn't look like a sexlink type but the others do! Other roos/hens possible? Oops edited because I started two different post & they combined!

 

[ladyrsanti]

I don't know anything about sexlink. The BO roo was hatchery stock, as well as the hens. The only possibilities for the one on the right is SLW or BR. We thought it was a SLW egg but the other two SLW chicks have rose combs, while this one is straight. No telling with what little I know.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Lady- all of my marans were last to hatch regardless of where they'd been situated in my incubator. After they pipped they did nothing for 12+ (30+ for one) hours. They seemed to need a much longer rest than the others between pip and zip. Let me know if yours are the same.