When do you start lockdown with bantam eggs?

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annmarie33

Chirping
Jun 22, 2015
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I'm just curious what has worked for you as I am getting close and debating on what to do. I have done 2 hatches with bantams. The first was lockdown on day 18 and they pipped and hatched right before day 19. I did some research and saw that some suggest lockdown for the bantam eggs on day 16. So next time I did that but they pipped on day 20 and hatched on 21. So it didn't seem to make a difference for 1-4 days of lockdown. I'm on day 17 this afternoon and I was thinking of starting lockdown then. These eggs are from hens that had only been laying a month or so and they are smaller. Although my last batch was small too. What has worked for you?
 
Bantams are just like any other chicken egg, they should have a 21 day incubation, but temps can change the time (lengthen or shorten) I would just, do it on 18. Another thing it isn't advised to use pullet eggs, they should be laying for about 4 mo. at the min. before you try to hatch the eggs.
 
Well the other 2 hatches were pullets also (laying for 1-2 months) and 7 eggs all together. 100% hatch. All 7 have been roosters though. I have 16 in the bator so I'm hoping I get similar results. I guess the first early hatch is what make me question. I hatched half of the broody hens eggs that time. And she hatched 2- hers hatched the same day as mine so I don't think my temp was high or anything. The second hatch the eggs were smaller than first and they hatched on day 21. But had been in lockdown for 4 days. Didn't seem to make a difference though. I guess if any of these pip early I'll know for next time
 
Lockdown- while it is not uncommon for bantam eggs to hatch a day or two early, many do not and most people do not recommend early lockdowns. I lock down day 18 and I have had pips once day 18 usually day 19. The biggest problem I would have with an early lockdown would be raising the humidity that far in advance.

Pullet eggs- it's more a matter of size than age in my opinion. You don't want to incubate standard chicken eggs that are the size of bantam eggs, but if they are a decent size by 2 months there's no reason not to. I had my best hatch (100% fertile and 100% lockdown to hatch ratio) with my pullets eggs and they were laying between 6-8 weeks. All healthy chicks not a single problem with health and they are now decent layers.
 
Its the end of day 17 and no internal pips. And for some reason it seems that air cells are smaller than the other hatches. Usually I am worried they are too big but these have been slow to grow. I've upped the humidity earlier today to 50-55 since tomorrow it will be 75 anyway. All 16 still trucking but no internal pips. So I think I'll just wait until tomorrow and do regular day 18. I'll update.
 
400
 
I have a few of each hens eggs and so I think there are 4 variety. Each kind seems to all have similar air cells but they are different from the others. I wish I knew who is laying the darker brown eggs. Those air cells are not growing down but more round if that makes sense. The best air cells are the cream smallest eggs which I think are Silkie. I marked one from the beginning that developed faster so I thought it would be first to hatch. Just put them on lockdown and marked air cells. First line is day 14 and then day 18. The Silkie egg hadn't internslly pipped but I could see its beak pushing it up. I'm nervous I've never done this many! The hens of these are cochin, Mille fluer, porcelain and Silkie. Rooster could be Silkie, frizzle, Easter egger or sebright. I collected these before we got rid of all our roosters except the frizzle. Anyway I'm excited! Oh and I'm also by myself this weekend with my twin 1 yr olds and 6 yr old son. This should be interesting
 

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