They're Hatching! Question.....

[mountaintopchicken]

My chicks are hatching - they started this morning. They seem to be a little early, but they look fine.


I know I'm not supposed to open the incubator until the chicks are dry and fluffy, but what do I do if some have been in there for hours (since five this morning - my husband discovered that they were hatching and I wasn't home yet from a trip), and some are still hatching? Do I wait until all are hatched and dry and fluffy before I remove them, even though some will have been in there a long time?

 

[Arklady]

I only move pipped eggs to a hatcher and it doesn't hurt to leave the chick in there for 24 hours. At least until they have found and can use their legs pretty well. If you have a hatcher just put the chicks in there if they are breaking out and leave the pipped ones in there till they show signs of breaking out. Mine always do well when I do that.

Arklady

PS I only help the ones that are in the process of breaking out but have run into difficulties.

 

[kstaven]

Some chicks can take 24 hours or more to get out of the egg once they pip.