When to move chick from incubator to brooder- active chick endangering rest of hatch? - urgent qu!

[fletchkatie]

I couldn't find much advice on this in the existing threads - sorry if I've missed something. It's my first time hatching in an incubator (we have used broodies before).
I have 6 eggs in a Brinsea Mini Advance - 4 are showing signs of hatching. One big chick has hatched successfully (- HURRAY!!) but is now clambering all over the others and rolling them over in the process - I'm a bit worried it'll damage the other eggs / chicks as they hatch - it is VERY active! It has hatched only about 1 hour ago so is still wet. Should I move it to the brooder (I have a heater plate - which, incidentally, seems much too hot to touch - but I guess this is OK???)- or should I leave it in the very small incubator....

Help much appreciated!
Thank you

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

When to move chicks to the brooder has to be your decision. For me personally I don't move any to the brooder untill hatch is complete or the incubator is fit to burst. Opening could risk shrink wrapping other eggs. I say could as this could happen but equally may not. For me I don't take the chance and the incubator stays shut. Wet chicks I certainly leave in there untill they are dry. Your hatched chick will be fine to stay in and your eggs will be fine too. The hatched chick should encourage others to get a move on with its peeping. Allthough it's thrashing about in there it will also have periods of rest. You may find also moving one chick to the brooder would cause it some distress being on its own.

Here are some of mine from a previous hatch ~

Good luck Hope you have a great hatch.

 

[fletchkatie]

Thank you very much - we actually held our nerve and left big chick in the incubator for 24 hours - and it worked! Amazing, despite big chick rolling the other eggs right over and draping itself all over them, they ALL hatched successfully - so thank you to all who chipped in with advice! We have 4 healthy, happy chicks - see pics. And the big chick is a Welsummer and looks pretty much for sure a pullet (see final pic) - so great news!