Succession Hatching

[SamiLynn]

Hello Everyone! So we are first time incubators/hatchers although we have raised chickens and ducks for quite some time. Anyways- we have had some issues throughout as we are using a very old incubator and had some temp fluctuations and such. We also added eggs to the incubator during a week long period from 9/5 to 9/10 (rookie move, I know). We had 3 healthy baby chicks hatch on the 26th. Then 1 passed after hatching (ruptured yolk from older one stepping on it during hatching, I think but I do know it didn’t absorb the yolk completely) BUT than two more externally pipped and died before zipping (please be nice I feel terrible for not helping them). Then today, one pipped, zipped and hatched in like 3 hours. She is currently in the incubator drying off and moving around. I have two questions, first should I worry that she will hurt the other eggs inside the incubator (she is all over the place)? Secondly, is it safe to move her to the brooder (once she’s dry) with the other older chicks? Thank you for any and all advice.

 

[Moop]

I sorry to hear about the ones that didn't make it. Upping the humidity to around 60%-65% the last couple of days helps the chicks break the shells. I would leave the new chick in the incubator as it's peeping encourages other little ones to hatch

 

[Nigel27]

Leave her in for at least twelve hours, they’re fine for a couple days. When she’s less clumsy put her with the others and watch for a bit, if they only hatched on the 26Th they should be totally fine with a newby. Are your vent plugs open? I’m also using an old still air incubator but I’ve added a small air pump to circulate air a bit and surrounded it with insulation. You could put it in a box with a blanket around it but not on top. And always take the vent plugs out after a week of incubation and then adjust temp.

 

[Tonyroo]

You can leave her in there till she's half way dry, then put her in the brooder. If you leave her in there too long she'll be knocking the other eggs around. Depending on how big or small your incubator is.