Lockdown approaching-final questions

ouhlala said:

Good morning all!

I have lockdown approaching in approx. 3-4 days, so I want to ask questions to make sure I have the most successful hatch. This is my first time and I am hoping to have beginners luck.

Incubator: Hovabator 1602N Still Air
Turning: Manual
Temp: Ranged from 37.2 C (low) to 38.1 C (high)
Humidity: Mostly dry due to high natural humidity in house (running approx: 40-45%)
Set day: I err'd here and set 5 on 5/9 and 7 on 5/10 (I didn't know any better). 24 hrs for 1st batch is 5/10 and 2nd batch is 5/11
Eggs: Rec'd from my neighbor on day they were laid, Barnyard mix
Started with 12, down to 11

Concerns:

1-Based on my setting them on 2 diff. days, would you lockdown early or late? Late Thursday or early Friday?

2- I have one egg that is moving internally but air cell has failed to get bigger, it is still looking pretty much like a day 7 air cell. I plan to let it be but if there is another suggestion/alternative, I would appreciate it. All other eggs are within normal range regarding cell development.

3-I know that eggs heat up the closer they get to hatch, how much should i lower incubator temp? And on which days?

4- How high should I raise humidity, as I have seen ranges, based on what my range has been? I was thinking 60-65%?

5-I have seen some people set eggs in egg cartons to keep the kicking of eggs around during hatching to a minimum, but I have also seen where the chicks kind of roll/turn to get into position. Right now my eggs are on a piece of foam so they didn't roll all over when I turned them. So, my question is, leave them on the foam or not?

Thank you so much, this forum has been extremely helpful in getting me to this point.

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ouhlala said:

Concerns:

1-Based on my setting them on 2 diff. days, would you lockdown early or late? Late Thursday or early Friday?

I would probably lock down late Thursday. I don't think 1 day early will be bad for the other eggs but the eggs that are due to lock down Thursday will need time to get in place.

2- I have one egg that is moving internally but air cell has failed to get bigger, it is still looking pretty much like a day 7 air cell. I plan to let it be but if there is another suggestion/alternative, I would appreciate it. All other eggs are within normal range regarding cell development.

Unfortunately unless you have 2 different bators I think the only thing that you can do is go with what the majority need. That egg that the cell did not get larger may be thicker or have some other issue that did not allow it to grow at the same rate as the others. If it is still growing/appears viable put it into lockdown with the rest. It may surprise you.


3-I know that eggs heat up the closer they get to hatch, how much should i lower incubator temp? And on which days?

I don't change my temp per se unless my trusted thermometers tell me that I need to. Eggs do give off heat/humidity when growing/hatching. IMO I would leave your bator set at the temp it is unless it starts to spike to a dangerous level. I have never had to adjust my temp at lock down.

4- How high should I raise humidity, as I have seen ranges, based on what my range has been? I was thinking 60-65%?

I too have been incubating "dry". I have been keeping my humidity 30%-40% during this hatch. I was shooting for 30%-35% but with the current outside humidity it has been a little challenging. The best hatch I ever had I kept my lockdown humidity at 75%. You want to make sure that your humidity is not so high condensation forms on the top window or is "raining down" on your eggs. If it is then your humidity is too high. I keep mine on the higher end closer to 75% because (and I am quoting Amy Lynn here ) "I am a meddler!" I will remove my chicks as they hatch/become active because of issues that I have had in the past. Not everyone works this way. I don't believe there is a right/wrong answer, just what is right/wrong for YOU!

5-I have seen some people set eggs in egg cartons to keep the kicking of eggs around during hatching to a minimum, but I have also seen where the chicks kind of roll/turn to get into position. Right now my eggs are on a piece of foam so they didn't roll all over when I turned them. So, my question is, leave them on the foam or not?

Leaving the eggs on the foam is a personal decision and again don't think there is a right/wrong answer. I did try to place cheesecloth in my bator with the last hatch to help with clean up afterwards but it really did not work the way that I had hoped. I know that there are others that put things like foam in and just throw it away afterwards. Again, up to you. I have never tried hatching in egg cartons. I do separate my eggs based on chick type (just something that I like to do). I use old plastic strawberry cartons. They are clear, and are slotted so air/humidity/temp circulates very easily. If you leave all of your eggs alone, and leave chicks in the bator until the hatch is complete, the chicks will roll your eggs as they become active.

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ouhlala said:

Thank you all so much, AmyLynn2374, I know my personality, and I am a meddler. I can't leave well enough alone even if it was on life support. Based on that, I will make it 75% because I will be moving chicks out as they hopefully hatch.

Kuchchicks, thank you too! I will shoot for Thursday lockdown. I plan on having my grandbabies over this weekend so they hopefully watch some of the chicks being born.

I AM SO EXCITED!! Is 21 days always this painfully slow??

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kuchchicks said:

x2! I am def addicted!!! This is my 3 hatch in 9 weeks! (2 days between each hatch) And I have another one planned for June 6... gonna be overrun! And IMO the SLOWEST time for incubation is from the time of the first pip until hatch... you are gonna think that it is going way to slow and that something MUST be wrong! It's not... just takes a while!

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