September 2016 Hatch-A-Long

[harmesonfarm]

When do you take the chicks out of the incubator?

Its been a day and theres still new pips in a few eggs and one zipping.

about 8 chicks have hatched now! So far we have 3 sfh, 2 ameraucanas, 2 olive eggers, and 1 bcm.
They seem hungry, pecking at everything...i was thinking i'd take them out tomorrow?

One of the sfh is dragging around it's hatch-gunk...is this ok/ normal?

 

[TurkenMomma]

When do you take the chicks out of the incubator?

Its been a day and theres still new pips in a few eggs and one zipping.

about 8 chicks have hatched now! So far we have 3 sfh, 2 ameraucanas, 2 olive eggers, and 1 bcm.
They seem hungry, pecking at everything...i was thinking i'd take them out tomorrow?

One of the sfh is dragging around it's hatch-gunk...is this ok/ normal?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

When do you take the chicks out of the incubator?

Its been a day and theres still new pips in a few eggs and one zipping.

about 8 chicks have hatched now! So far we have 3 sfh, 2 ameraucanas, 2 olive eggers, and 1 bcm.
They seem hungry, pecking at everything...i was thinking i'd take them out tomorrow?

One of the sfh is dragging around it's hatch-gunk...is this ok/ normal?

I take mine or as soon as they are up and walking around. I remove egg shells pretty quickly too.

 

[harmesonfarm]

Thanks! @TurkenMomma @SunHwaKwon
So far now we have 11 chicken of the 17 eggs to hatch. I'll keep my eye open for other pips this morning or movement.

I do have one chick who hatched last night before bed that can't walk yet...its toes are not opening up it seems, is this normal? Could it be splayed / saddle legs?

ALSO, for bedding, i was going to do woodchips as that's what we have for the coop....but some have said not to do that for the first week? What about washed sand? should I use that for now instead? Thanks!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Thanks! @TurkenMomma @SunHwaKwon
So far now we have 11 chicken of the 17 eggs to hatch. I'll keep my eye open for other pips this morning or movement.

I do have one chick who hatched last night before bed that can't walk yet...its toes are not opening up it seems, is this normal? Could it be splayed / saddle legs?

ALSO, for bedding, i was going to do woodchips as that's what we have for the coop....but some have said not to do that for the first week? What about washed sand? should I use that for now instead? Thanks!

I use paper towels over newspaper for the first few days, then pine shavings. I put grit in the food at that point in case they eat any bits of the shavings.

It sounds like the chick has curled toes. Slightly askew toes usually straighten up on their own, but curled up almost fistlike usually requires intervention. Search on here for curled toes or taping feet and you will find guidance. I have only had one like that and it fixed in about a day after I taped them up. Splayed legs is a different problem, with the legs spreading apart and the chick having difficulty getting them aligned underneath to walk.

 

[draye]

I don't take my biddies out until they're good and dry and running around. Usually on the second day after hatch

Mine go from the incubator to the brooder I have built in the barn. I put a light dusting of sawdust down. Then the chicks go in. I had tried brooders off the grounf and lost so many that way and tried this. It works so much better and I lose way less babies this way. I honestly think that they get a better immune system going this way.

Got 1 more week to wait out. Down to 41 eggs.

 

[two j farm]

I use newspaper and paper towels for the first week then they go outside and they are on the ground all day at night I pick them up and put them in a brooder with light. Its hot here so they dont need a light after about two weeks. I like to take the light off of them asap they do better in the winter this way.

 

[harmesonfarm]

Great! thank you for the responses!!

For now i will do the paper towel / newspaper in the tote we'll be keeping them in for a few days. Were just finishing up the bigger brooder we have set up in the shop, once it's done we'll transfer them to that.

i'll let you know how it goes with the splayed / crooked toes!
i will treat it when we transfer them out of the incubator later today.

 

[Joplus]

Good morning everyone and congrats on the new babies. I'm on day 17 and the temperature dropped overnight. I can't get it to stabilize, totally spazzing out on it. So DH is buying the incubator I wanted before this hatch and I'm going to attempt to move them. I'm totally nervous about this. Any advice? I'm buying the Farm Innovators 4250. I currently have the Farm Innovators 2100 and it's cracked and scotch taped together. I feel bad even putting my babies in this murderous incubator.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Great! thank you for the responses!!

 
For now i will do the paper towel / newspaper in the tote we'll be keeping them in for a few days. Were just finishing up the bigger brooder we have set up in the shop, once it's done we'll transfer them to that.

i'll let you know how it goes with the splayed / crooked toes!
i will treat it when we transfer them out of the incubator later today.

Okay make sure you do it ASAP because it has to be taped before the bones harden or it's too late