14 eggs in the incubator... due to hatch June 18.

[Love my Critters!]

Lockdown is at day 18 you raise the humidity to usually about 65 % and stop turning the eggs. Everyone calls it lockdown because you shouldn't open the incubator. You want the high humidity so that the chicks can "break" through the membrane. If it gets too dry the membrane "shrink-wraps" and is too tough for the little chicks to break through.

 

[TripTrapMtnHomestead]

Love my Critters! :

Lockdown is at day 18 you raise the humidity to usually about 65 % and stop turning the eggs. Everyone calls it lockdown because you shouldn't open the incubator. You want the high humidity so that the chicks can "break" through the membrane. If it gets too dry the membrane "shrink-wraps" and is too tough for the little chicks to break through.

Great, Thank you!​

 

[Razadia]

>.< I just lost two more. I found the cat on top of the bator again. I can't be made at her though. I took them out back to find out how far along they were and I'm really surprised they lasted this long. One wasn't anywhere near far enough along and the other... good grief was that poor thing deformed.

I guess the cat just sort of knew. I dunno. Lockdown is Sunday and I'm hoping I don't lose any more before then.

 

[Axle Quails]

My Birthday - I think i got some hatching that day Aswell

 

[blkwdw]

I'm noticing the temps in my hovabator are creeping up a little, the temps were steady at 100-100.5, now at day 13 the temps want to stay at 101.3, I am using a still air bator, should I try to get it back down to 100.5? That's at the top of the eggs.

 

[justtoni44]

Hi and

,
I have eggs due the 16th and will be happy to be a hatching buddy.
Sure is a lot more fun with friends............
You asked about a hydrometer.............YES, YES, YES,
I get mine at petco for about $6.00..little round ones that are in the reptile section.
I have 5 Seramas and 1/2 dozen mixed from my layer flock.....
I have hatches due about a week after that.need to check the calender...........
Good Luck and have fun.
I didn't address the temp quesation because I have an LG still air andd it is so touchy that I try not to mess with
the temp at all..............
some one with experience will help you I am sure....

Toni

 

[blkwdw]

Thanks and welcome, isn't hatching exciting? I go over and look in the windows even though I know they aren't sure for a week. I'm wondering as the chicks develop, wouldn't they put off a little heat of their own?

 

[LuvMyBLR]

Quote:
Yeah I heard, can't remember where I saw it, that you need to turn the temp down a tad toward the end just because they give off their own heat. If you have vents in your bator, maybe you would just take the plug out of one and monitor it? Since it's only a little too high, that might be all you need. or you can just tap the thermostat a little.

 

[Razadia]

Quote:
Yeah I heard, can't remember where I saw it, that you need to turn the temp down a tad toward the end just because they give off their own heat. If you have vents in your bator, maybe you would just take the plug out of one and monitor it? Since it's only a little too high, that might be all you need. or you can just tap the thermostat a little.

Yep, they sure do. I just had to turn the temp down a bit. I can't blame the cat on this temp spike.

It was all chick caused. I;m not taking the plugs out since It gets a bit cool in my room at night. I'll have to for lockdown, though.

 

[blkwdw]

Ok, so let me get this straight.. If sat (6/18) is day 21, wed is day 18, do I take out the turner at the end of day 18 and increase the humidity and go into lockdown, or does it matter doing it anytime during day 18? I set the eggs early (06: 00am)on sat may 28? Only a few more days...