Removing chicks from incubator?

[mrstillery09]

Hey all!

I have chicks (and a couple ducklings) that have hatched in my incubator. It's getting quite crowded now, but there are still some yet to hatch.

Can I remove some chicks and empty shells? Or is it best to wait it out?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I move mine if it’s looking full in there, carefully but quickly. Yes there is always the risk with opening the incubator but I’ve never had any ill affects from it.

 

[Ridgeback825]

They will be fine. Shrink wrapping is extremely overstated. I just let them dry a bit but that depends on how crowded things get.

 

[mrstillery09]

I move mine if it’s looking full in there, carefully but quickly. Yes there is always the risk with opening the incubator but I’ve never had any ill affects from it.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

 

[mrstillery09]

They will be fine. Shrink wrapping is extremely overstated. I just let them dry a bit but that depends on how crowded things get.

Most of them are pretty dried, if any are "fresh" I'll probably leave them to dry out a bit more in the incubator. Thank you!

 

[mcdze]

i use a small incubator so its always crowded, and even one chick will fumble over eggs and kick them around .. so as soon as theyre out and chirping and i hear it, i move them to a warm brooder, quickly of course, grab the shell to and that keeps it clean and prevents goo from drying onto the bator .. never had one problem doing that, but, it needs to be quick, if the temp drops too much it can slow down the others .. got to do a snatch and grab in like 3 seconds lol .. also discovered most of that nonstop chirping is because theyre wet and cold in the draft of the forced air incubator .. immediately when i put them under the brooder light they stretch out and go to sleep

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can I remove some chicks and empty shells? Or is it best to wait it out?

I agree, shrink wrap hardly ever happens, even when you open the incubator during lockdown and an egg has pipped. To me, hardly ever is not the same as never. I've had it happen to me so I believe it is possible, even if it hardly ever happens. If I have a reason to open the incubator at any time I'll weigh the risks and open it if I think it is worth it. Sometimes it is.

Since I understand it can possibly happen even if it hardly ever happens I consider it best practices to not open the incubator during lockdown without a reason. I see no reason to increase the chances of something bad happening just because something bad hardly ever happens.

If you consider your situation to be a problem then take them out. I would not but it is purely your choice. It is very likely nothing bad will happen but I can't give you any guarantees.

 

[mrstillery09]

I agree, shrink wrap hardly ever happens, even when you open the incubator during lockdown and an egg has pipped. To me, hardly ever is not the same as never. I've had it happen to me so I believe it is possible, even if it hardly ever happens. If I have a reason to open the incubator at any time I'll weigh the risks and open it if I think it is worth it. Sometimes it is.

Since I understand it can possibly happen even if it hardly ever happens I consider it best practices to not open the incubator during lockdown without a reason. I see no reason to increase the chances of something bad happening just because something bad hardly ever happens.

If you consider your situation to be a problem then take them out. I would not but it is purely your choice. It is very likely nothing bad will happen but I can't give you any guarantees.

I did end up removing the ones that hatched and their shells as quickly as possible. All went well! Ended up with 100 percent hatch rate for my chicken eggs... Duck eggs not nearly as good. But I'm happy overall!

Thank you!

 

[A little Daffy]

I'm wondering about that too. Sad to hear duck eggs not as good since that's what's in my incubator right now. Second time attempt in 2 years.
Seems like a mama duck still leaves her nest to eat and bath when the eggs are getting ready to hatch so I'm wondering why opening the incubator to check to see if pipping has occurred is a big deal.
If a check isn't made, how can you tell if an air hole would be needed after 48 hrs?
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[SourRoses]

I do it repeatedly during hatches, I don't like seeing them kick the eggs everywhere, and they're never content in the incubator. In my climate the humidity bounces back in minutes. But it's too humid for chicks to dry well in there. So a couple hours is the longest I've left them. They are always happy to get under the brooder light.