True or false; don’t open incubator within 24 hours of first chick hatching?

[Vonchmessica]

I was told by a guy who sold me my first lot of coturnix quail eggs not to open the incubator within 24 hours of the first chick hatching. He said that if I did all the humidity would escape and the other chicks won’t hatch. This is gonna be really hard... because I’ve been really excited and Im gonna want to check on them! I’ve never heard of this before during my research. What’s your take on it?

 

[2 many chickens]

Opening quickly to remove a hatchling will not hurt anything. Quail can't go as long as baby chickens could without food and water. 24 hours is a bit long. Just remove baby and add a warm wet sponge piece/or washcloth peice to get lost humidity back up quickly.

 

[2 many chickens]

Of course after hatchling has dried out/fluffed up/walking around should you remove it. Usually a few hours after hatch.

 

[KRFlashner]

what happens if they hatch overnight? Will they be ok until morning?

 

[le_bwah]

They should be fine overnight, just check on them in the morning and remove anybody who's fluffy (as long as no one else is actively zipping; that can lead to shrink-wrapping).

 

[KRFlashner]

They should be fine overnight, just check on them in the morning and remove anybody who's fluffy (as long as no one else is actively zipping; that can lead to shrink-wrapping).

Thanks. When I saw 4 hours I was worried for a bit.

 

[Erkenstein]

The longer they are in there the more they poop up the incubator and knock the other eggs around. Remove them quickly once they are dry as long as there is not a chick in the actual act of zipping, as le_bwah said. As long as you have water in the channels (and a wet sponge), the humidity will come right back up no problem. Just don't take the top off all the way.

 

[Fishkeeper]

When they come out and are still wet, leave them in. As soon as you see them turn into puffballs, quickly take them out and put them in your brooder. It's not an emergency situation, but it's best to remove the puffs as soon as possible so they don't cause trouble, and so they can stretch their little legs and get food and water.

 

[Broodygranny]

I usually brun a humidifier in the room for a little while before I open the incubator. If the humidity in the room is high, then I don't think it will dry out the chicks. Maybe I am paranoid, though!

 

[le_bwah]

I usually brun a humidifier in the room for a little while before I open the incubator. If the humidity in the room is high, then I don't think it will dry out the chicks. Maybe I am paranoid, though!

I was so nervous my first hatch, I brought the incubator into the bathroom and turned the shower on to steam the room up; still wound up with a shrink-wrapped chick. I've learned that waiting for chicks to get done zipping is key.