we put the eggs in the incubator on march 16 and 18 days from then would be tomorrow april 3. So do I put the eggs in today or tomorrow?
What day is Lockdown???
- Thread starter theron
- Start date
- Mar 7, 2010
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I lockdown at 18th day, and I have 9 healthy chicks now!
Tomorrow!
I placed chicks the same day so lockdown for me is tomorrow as well.
I'm very eggcited, are you?
I've read in some posts that if you set the eggs late in the day, go ahead and start the countdown on the following morning. I suppose you could be super precise and start lockdown at 18 days to the hour. I'm not sure mother nature is that precise, but you know how we humans are!
Congrats and have fun!
Have you read the very helpful instructions/advice on hatching and lockdown, temps, humidity, etc? Check out the April hatch a long thread, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=311988 and the candling thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876 --great pics and advice.
The "stickies" up top in the incubating/hatching eggs section have great info and links, too.
I placed chicks the same day so lockdown for me is tomorrow as well.
I'm very eggcited, are you?
I've read in some posts that if you set the eggs late in the day, go ahead and start the countdown on the following morning. I suppose you could be super precise and start lockdown at 18 days to the hour. I'm not sure mother nature is that precise, but you know how we humans are!
Congrats and have fun!
Have you read the very helpful instructions/advice on hatching and lockdown, temps, humidity, etc? Check out the April hatch a long thread, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=311988 and the candling thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876 --great pics and advice.
The "stickies" up top in the incubating/hatching eggs section have great info and links, too.
- Thread starter
- #4
I am super eggcited!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my first incubation as well and they are eggs from my chickens so i can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To some people, day 1 can be the day you put the eggs in. To others it can be the day after they have had a full day of development. Or you can look at it as they are on their second day of development or they have completed two days of development. I can see why people get confused. When people talk about which day, think of it as the end of day whatever.
There is a simple way to look at when the eggs should hatch. If you start the eggs on a Wednesday, they should hatch on a Wednesday. If you set them on a Sunday, they should hatch on a Sunday. Whatever day of the week you set them will be the day they should hatch. Some may hatch early. Some may hatch late. Some may even hatch when they are supposed to. Mine were a day and a half early, which means the incubation temperature was a little too high.
Hatching does not occur instantaneously but is a process. They pip. They rest, sometimes a long time. They zip. They push out of the shell. They rest and dry off. It is an exhausting process for the tiny little fellow.
Chicken eggs take about 21 days to develop and hatch. Some are a bit faster or slower but about 21 days. The eggs have not had 24 hours of development the instant you put them in the incubator. It takes 24 hours to get 24 hours of development. If you have a photo that says, when you candle at day 10, the development should look like this, that is after 10 full days of development. It is not after 9 days and 1 second of development. If you are looking at hatch day, it is at the end of 21 full days of development.
Lockdown should be after 18 days of development. A few hours early is not all that critical. If my count is correct, if I put them in on the 16th, I would lock down about the same time of day on Saturday the 3rd. As Beckymom3 said, Mother Nature is not all that precise.
It can be a bit confusing. Hope this helps.
There is a simple way to look at when the eggs should hatch. If you start the eggs on a Wednesday, they should hatch on a Wednesday. If you set them on a Sunday, they should hatch on a Sunday. Whatever day of the week you set them will be the day they should hatch. Some may hatch early. Some may hatch late. Some may even hatch when they are supposed to. Mine were a day and a half early, which means the incubation temperature was a little too high.
Hatching does not occur instantaneously but is a process. They pip. They rest, sometimes a long time. They zip. They push out of the shell. They rest and dry off. It is an exhausting process for the tiny little fellow.
Chicken eggs take about 21 days to develop and hatch. Some are a bit faster or slower but about 21 days. The eggs have not had 24 hours of development the instant you put them in the incubator. It takes 24 hours to get 24 hours of development. If you have a photo that says, when you candle at day 10, the development should look like this, that is after 10 full days of development. It is not after 9 days and 1 second of development. If you are looking at hatch day, it is at the end of 21 full days of development.
Lockdown should be after 18 days of development. A few hours early is not all that critical. If my count is correct, if I put them in on the 16th, I would lock down about the same time of day on Saturday the 3rd. As Beckymom3 said, Mother Nature is not all that precise.
It can be a bit confusing. Hope this helps.
- Thread starter
- #6
thank you!!!!!!!!! That information really helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait for some chicks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote:
Excellent way of putting it: I counted the 3 weeks, then back 3 days and jotted that down as my lockdown day. Now, though, I'm in a quandry because I've got staggered hatches and lockdown for my second batch should be late evening on Monday the 5th. Unfortunately, I'm out of town that night! I'll probably begin lockdown that following morning because that will put the eggs in lockdown the least number of hours off of the set time/date. My options are: lockdown 32 or so hours early or 12 hours late. I'm opting for a little late rather than very early. See how complicated we humans make things!!!!
Excellent way of putting it: I counted the 3 weeks, then back 3 days and jotted that down as my lockdown day. Now, though, I'm in a quandry because I've got staggered hatches and lockdown for my second batch should be late evening on Monday the 5th. Unfortunately, I'm out of town that night! I'll probably begin lockdown that following morning because that will put the eggs in lockdown the least number of hours off of the set time/date. My options are: lockdown 32 or so hours early or 12 hours late. I'm opting for a little late rather than very early. See how complicated we humans make things!!!!
- Thread starter
- #8
beckymom3 : we are going to have to share pictures of our chicks when they hatch!!!! What are you hatching yours in? Mine are in a LG incubator. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The babies going into lockdown tomorrow are super rare Red Dorkings I was very lucky to buy from a wonderful, dedicated man here in Central Texas. I've got 12 out of 13 kicking as of candling yesterday.
I also have 12 Australorps and 25 mixed Light/buff Brahmas that are due for lockdown on Mon.
Yes, share pics!!!! Have you checked out the April hatch a long?
Cheers!
I also have 12 Australorps and 25 mixed Light/buff Brahmas that are due for lockdown on Mon.
Yes, share pics!!!! Have you checked out the April hatch a long?
Cheers!
I'd go early. I'm in the midst of my first hatch and temps must have been high--two thermometers and it all looked pretty good, but lockdown was supposed to be last night and I had pips yesterday afternoon. One cute little chick out this morning and 8 more pips, some of them getting close to zipping. Anyhow, my point is that if you've got a turner in there and aren't going to be around early might be better. At least take them out of the turner early, you can mess with the humidity when you're home to keep an eye on things. Just my .02 from my very limited experience. Happy hatching!!
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