Why do they keep doing this?????

[klf73]

I have a hatch going right now. It started after the second chick. They went and stood on the next zipped egg. Then the 2 of them stood on the next egg after it zipped and the chick had a hard time getting out. Now the one that just PULLED itself out came from under 3 chicks. I got a pic and will post it later. Why the heck do they try to smother the next chick????? I have never seen this before. They are ameraucana. Crazy chickies

Krista

 

[keljonma]

I hatch our eggs under a hen, so not sure. But I've read that you are supposed to remove the chicks from the incubator to the brooder.

I'm sure someone with experience will chime in....

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm not certain why they do that, but I have had to remove some chicks from the bator to the brooder. If you are going to do that however, you need to crack the top of the bator only enough to get your hand in to quickly remove some of the chicks. I've grabbed up three at a time before! The key is to not let out the humidity to where the others that are hatching have a hard time. You don't want to mess them up. So, crack the bator lid just enough to get a handful of chicks, close it straight away, and run those chicks to the warm brooder! Good luck!

 

[seminolewind]

I think they are just trying to find the highest thing to stand on.

 

[klf73]

OK, I know how to do this hatching thing and brooder thing

. The biggest culprit is my "cracked egg" chick. *she* climbs on each chick after they pop their top, it's too funny.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

This is why I take my chicks out as soon as they dry a little bit and put them in the brooder. As much as I like to have one chirping away, calling the others to hatch, I don't like what they do to the eggs.

The brooder is right next to the hatcher, so hopefully their little voices carry to the hatcher!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!
I believe (but it is just my observations), they are attracted by the chick-still-in-the-shell cheeping.

It's an odd thing to watch and you wonder if they are being encouraging or trying to squash them.
I wonder if it is an instinctual thing and they are making an attempt to bond with the first *noises* they hear. There are no Mom-type noises, so they go for the next best thing. They can't snuggle under the *noise*, but they can climb on top --- maybe.

Lisa