Hatching in an incubator - quick advice please!

[jessmorris]

Hi folks,
can anyone give me some quick advice please?

I'm hatching eggs in an incubator for the first time and the first chick is hatched and alternately running about in the incubator and lying down with its eyes shut. is this normal, and do I leave all the eggs and chicks in there until they are all hatched? the instructions say they can be left for 48 hours til they are put into a brooder (mine will be going under a broody who is hatching the remainder of the eggs).

Sorry to sound such a noggin but I usually leave it all up to the hen, believe me, its a lot less stressful!

bye for now,
Claire

[RichmondHens]

It's normal for an incubator chick. When under the hen the chicks are in the dark and are kept still and quiet. The light stimulates them so if your incy has some sort of light in it (most do so you can see what's going on) then the chick will continue to run around. They lie down when tired. As long as the hen already has some chicks hatching under her you can add to her hatch with the incubator ones as soon as they are dry and standing, some people say wait 48 hours but I find the sooner they get under the hen the better, more likely that the hen will accept them. Also do it at night so she can't see what you are doing. Once she has come off the nest and "counted" her babies it is much harder to keep introducing them so be prepared to hand rear any late hatchers.

[jessmorris]

Thanks RH. I have a lamp at the ready in case it all goes **ts up!

[jessmorris]

3 out of 4 hatched and the fourth got stuck in the egg. I think the membranes had dried once the other 3 hatched. I helped it out (I know, I know) but it was moving and cheeping vigorously, it just couldn't fight its way out past the dry membrane. It was fine once out and is now running around with the others with the broody. Interesting how the humidity dropped once the others had hatched (I didn't open the incubator) and I was amazed at the amount of dander in the incy fan and surrounding fleece i had sat it on. One very good reason for not having chicks in the house!
Cheers,
C

[RichmondHens]

Yay well done you and glad the broody accepted them all. Happy chick watching!

Know what you mean about all the fluff - our incy got completely clogged up with gosling fluff and we have had to replace both fans ready for this season.

[Nicos]

Congrats on the chicks! Nice to hear a happy ending!!

[jessmorris]

Phew! Just off to check them (at a local smallholding where they are staying for a bit) now!