When should I move my chick from the incubator?

[RaisingFlorida]

Hello! This is my first time hatching chicks, and nothing has gone according to plan. I now have one chick in the incubator. Hatched about 12 hours ago. It is not all the way fluffed yet, but I am worried about dehydration. It seems strong, but still wobbles a lot when walking. Is this baby ready to be moved?

I will post some additional info shortly.

 

[SnackMeat]

Yes, so long as you have somewhere warm to move it. And definitely dip the beak.

Probably wobbly because grates aren't great walking surfaces for them.

 

[kattabelly]

It can definitely come out now, so long as you have somewhere warm, dry and draught-free for it to go. Make sure it knows where the water, food and heat are and that it can't fall into the water and drown.

Is it the only one you have hatching?

 

[RaisingFlorida]

Background on my little chick, named Sammie.
1. I had a broody hen. I'd been trying to break her for at least 2 months. Finally I decided to let her hatch some chicks. So I gave her 4 eggs.
2. The broody was wonderful. For 19 days. Then she quit! (I can share more details about this another time. I have theories.) After about 6 hours where she would not return to the nest, I took the eggs and put them in a nurture right 360 incubator.
3. One of the four eggs has hatched a day later. It has been about 12 hours and the chick has gotten stronger and stronger. No other activity from the other eggs, but the one chick has kicked them around quite a bit.
4. The temp in the incubator is 99.5 and the humidity is 75%.
5. I have read that they need water soon so they don't dehydrate. I've also read that they should stay in the incubator until all dry and fluffy. How long should I wait?

 

[RaisingFlorida]

It can definitely come out now, so long as you have somewhere warm, dry and draught-free for it to go. Make sure it knows where the water, food and heat are and that it can't fall into the water and drown.

Is it the only one you have hatching?

There were 4 eggs, but only this one hatched. I've reached out to a local chicken lady and I'm getting a few chicks from her tomorrow.

 

[SnackMeat]

Have you candled the other eggs? They might just need more time.

 

[RaisingFlorida]

There were 4 eggs, but only this one hatched. I've reached out to a local chicken lady and I'm getting a few chicks from her tomorrow.

I have a brooder all set up, but just the one chick! Will it be ok in the brooder by itself for a day, until I get a few more chicks?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Before a chick hatches it should absorb the yolk. It can live for 72 hours or more off of that yolk without eating or drinking. It's why nature arranged for them to absorb the yolk, so the early hatchers can wait on the late hatchers so Mommy Hen doesn't have to abandon the later hatchers to feed and water the early hatchers. As long as the yolk is gone you can assume the chick absorbed it. The yolk would be a big yellow soft blob attached to its rear.

I have read that they need water soon so they don't dehydrate.

You can read a lot of things. Some of them are nonsense, like this.

I've also read that they should stay in the incubator until all dry and fluffy.

You can read a lot of things. As long as the chick is immediately put somewhere warm so it doesn't get a chick you can take it out anytime you want.

Have you candled the other eggs? They might just need more time.

Good question.

Not all eggs hatch at exactly the same time. Many reputable incubator manufacturers and many hatching professionals recommend against opening the incubator until the hatch is over because opening it could possibly cause hatching problems, mainly shrink wrapping the unhatched chicks. Many members of this forum consider that the professionals don't know what they are talking about, that there is no danger of shrink wrapping the unhatched chicks by opening the incubator unnecessarily early. Do as you wish. The other eggs usually don't shrink wrap if you open the incubator but "usually don't" is not a good enough reason for me to take an unnecessary chance.

Congratulations on the one chick and good luck on the other eggs.

I have a brooder all set up, but just the one chick! Will it be ok in the brooder by itself for a day, until I get a few more chicks?

It should be fine but putting a mirror in there so it can see its own reflection might help keep it from being lonely.

 

[kattabelly]

I have a brooder all set up, but just the one chick! Will it be ok in the brooder by itself for a day, until I get a few more chicks?

Some people give them a stuffed toy and/or a mirror.

Personally when I've had one chick hatch very early I've just kept it with me if it's only for a few hours or up to a day (wrapped in a cloth in the neck of my t-shirt) but appreciate that's not something everyone will want to do!