The Early Bird

[angiec]

I received my bobwhite eggs on 8/7 and put the in the incubator. Today is day 20 so I went in to remove the eggs from the turner. That's when I saw her - my first chick had already hatched - 3 days early!
This is my first hatch so I was quite surprised. Time to rush to get the final preparations on the brooder.
Is it normal for a hatch to start this early? Perhaps it was accelerated by the heat of the summer or warm transport of the eggs to me?

 

[angiec]

Two more hatched during the night.

 

[flg8r]

I have no idea but congrats! I hope you have the brooder ready now. If all else fails put them in a rubbermaid bin with the light overhead until it is.

 

[angiec]

Yea I've got them in an aquarium brooder now. I guess only the 3 are going to be early birds. No others hatched today. I had no idea these little guys were so sweet. They perk up whenever they see me walk by and when I put my hand in the brooder, they scramble to get in my hand and snuggle up and go to sleep.