newly hatched chick cheeping

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chickenfan

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I haven't used an incubator before. My first chick to hatch did so very quickly, then seems extremely active before it has dried out. It is also cheeping. Is this all normal? I'm slightly worried about it disrupting the other eggs hatching.
 
By 'active' I mean frequently struggling onto its feet, flapping its wings and cheeping persistently as it does so. I'm not sure whether to leave it in the brooder? It is not yet fully dry. It seems to be struggling upwards to be with a mother. The incubator is the right temperature. Thank you Marigold, I've just seen your reassuring reply arrive. It just seems so restless I hope this is OK
 
Yes it's just drying out, if its very active you have a good strong chick there. Leave it/ them in the incubator for up to 24 hours to dry out properly, don't be tempted to open the incubator to transfer any chicks until the last one is hatched and fully dry, or the humidity and temperature will drop, which would cause problems for the remaining chicks. They need no food or water during this time as they are till digesting the remains of the egg sac, and unti this is absorbed they won't take anything else. Get the brooder really well warmed for an hour or two at least before transferring them, so the bedding etc is all at the correct temperature, same as in the incubator at first so there's no shock when they go in there.
Patience, patience - hard though it is! We are looking forward to some pics of this precocious chick!
 
Thank you again Marigold. I'm so glad you think it is a stron chick! The thing is it is clambering over all the other eggs, making them roll about, which will be disorientating for their hatching..
 
We set all our eggs ready for pipping in a ring made of foam pipe insulation cut about 3 mm thick. This stops the hatched chicks knocking them about. Yes it will disorientate the others so it should be separated as soon as possible into a brooder set at the same temperature.
 
Thank you so much for asking Marigold. It has been all go here and I have 8 beautiful little Marans chicks: 1 cuckoo, 3 splash, 1 blue and 3 black (I think, although they might be very dark grey). Some are already eating a tiny bit and drinking, and they are peaceful and happy. Most of them did a lot of loud cheeping and struggling onto their feet after they emerged from the shell.

How are your lovely Buff Sussex girls?
 
I only have one, Marigold, see my avatar on the right. Now two and a alf years old, doing well, goes broody regularly, very beautiful but rather a stupid hen, I think.
So glad about the chicks, and that all's well in the maternity ward! What happened to the one you thought might have a prolapse? Did it resolve itself?
sorry, I've just seen our other post, glad its OK.
 
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