What to do with chicks in the incubator....

[Brunty_Farms]

I have about a dozen chicks that are in the incubator right now, how long do I leave them in there before taking them out? I have quite a few eggs still pipped but they haven't hatched yet. My concern is the fact that the newly hatched chicks are moving the other eggs all over. If your not supposed to turn them after day 17, the chicks did a heck of a job scrambling up their remaining hatch mates.

Should I just let them go and hope for the best, or should I scoop out the chicks and refill the water channels and sponges?

I have about a dozen left to hatch that have pipped and a dozen already on the ground. It's been a dragged out hatch with the first pip happening last night around 7:00 P.M and it will be 24 hours from the first pip here in about 4 hours. Should I let them sit for another day or two?

I have hatched plenty of chicks but it's been awhile and need some refreshments!

Thanks in advance.

 

[esthermgr]

Some would disagree vehemently with me, but I would take those active chicks out after several hours. Just make sure you do something to keep the humidity correct, like very light misting or adding damp sponges. I have done this and had a fantastic hatch. There are various reasons I've decided this is an acceptable approach. Most importantly, experienced hatchers told me to do it and it worked out great. Also, some of my new chicks were getting overheated in the incubator after several hours. They were more comfy in the brooder. Finally, the big sisters were flipping some of the eggs over and making it much much harder for them to hatch. I lost one chick (my only loss in that hatch) when it got flipped into a weird position. Hope that helps you.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Well, that's just it. The others are banging the eggs up against the wall.... they knocked my thermometer/hydrometer down and are on a rampage tearing up the incubator. My biggest thing is, eggs that were on a roll as far as pipping have now stopped and some are pinned in the incubator between walls and eggs that may make it difficult for them to hatch.

Temperature dropped 5 degrees though and humidity has been up and down from 50% to 71% and it has been holding steady the last two hours at 65%. It's a cheap still air (all I have) and not sure if it is very effective at maintaining temps and regulations in humidity.


Thanks for your response though! I may just take them out really quick.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I've never tried this, but someone recommended going into the bathroom and turning the shower up all the way on hot to raise the humdity, then removing the chicks without any humidity loss

 

[raimnel]

get a bin (taxi) for ur DRY chicks and get them out as fast as you can. and quickly set up ur therm/hydro. maybe sprits water. but do it FAST. I got my chicks out cause when the new one was hatching the hatched ones were picking at the new ones and making it bleed

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I left them in and one just hatched and all was ok. I'm going to give them to late tonight and then I will pull them out.