When do you remove some of the dry chicks, if the hatch isn't done?

chickenbike

Songster
11 Years
Apr 1, 2008
410
16
144
British Columbia, Canada
2 of my chicks hatched yesterday and at 19 hours are ready to come out of the incubator. 5 chicks are still wet, 4 eggs have pipped. I notice that the membrane is starting to look slightly dry on the 4 pipped eggs. Can I remove the dry chicks, put a damp paper towel on the pipped membranes, and reclose the incubator? Will this harm the remaining hatch?

Edited to add: I have a Hova-Bator incubator
 
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What I usually do when that happens - get your humidity up around 75 or 80%, open the bator quick and pull out the ready chicks...
Then when your humidity drops, it wont drop below where you want (unless you leave the top open for too long)...
 
With my last experience, the humidity shot so high when there were zippers happening, it didn't phase the rest just to reach in and grab the dry fluffies to put into the brooder. However, I have a homemade bator made from an Omaha steak box and it's pretty large, which might have had something to do with the humidity not dissapating.
 
I think you'll be fine, just open quickly then put a damp paper towel or sponge in before you close the lid. Also, chicks can stay in the incubator for up to 3 days without harming them.
 

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