The Poultry Keeper

Red_Rooster · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 8

Ok, this is my first attempt at hatching, so not really sure what to do.

I've got 6 eggs in the incubator and it's now day 21. At about 5pm we had one hatch no problem and another had pecked a hole in it's shell. Now, 4 hours later we are no further on.

Do I take the first chick out and put under heat?

Do I leave the other one alone, it is chirping but doesn't seem to be moving any more?

Probably worrying over nothing, but you know what it's like the first time.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

Don't worry. You can leave a chick for up to 48 hours after hatching without any harm coming to it. They are still absorbing the egg yolk so don't need to be moved. This is a great advantage as they can hatch over three days. I don't remove the first one until a second is fluffed up and dry. Some people wait for the whole lot to be fluffy

Red_Rooster · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 8

Thanks, that's what I thought but I wanted to be sure.

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

I'm just going on two days away and no sign yet so is this normal?whwn we candled all was well and threw out the one that was 'bad'.............

CP · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:47 am Post subject:

They may not even pip until day 21. You just have to be patient! Cool

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

ok, thanks!!!it's my first hatch and I just want everything to be right!!It's now coming to the end of day19 and no sign yet just to let everyone know!!!haha!!!

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

Good grief, that's the day I transfer mine to the hatcher and usually when I candle there's no activity visible. 24 hours later I may find a chick or so hatched, or possibly not until day 23. I don't sling out any until 24 hours after the last one to hatch, and even then I'll pick it open to check that it really is a dead in shell - it always has been.

mojo · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

mojos words of wisdom ...........never dump a egg till 25 Full days in the incubby then check and chuck

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

I was'nt goin to dump it!!and if you read my post i checked the incubator and 1 or 2 eggs are moving and I can hear chirping!!!!.........YAY!!!