Age of egg advice needed on lockdown

[Carlswani]

Hello! I’ve had two failed hatch attempts and think the second was due to too high humidity during the whole incubation process but the problem is 5-10 days into the last hatch I got a frizzle rooster and was so excited to see if he was fertile I put the first one of his eggs in just to see if it was or not. The air sac is small but I’m trying a dry hatch this time around so it’s had a week to dry out. I can’t decide when to put him in lock down what do you think? It’s moving around alot so seems to have plenty of room in the darkness, one side is completely black and the other has about the area surface of a

20c piece all up that I see. I don’t want to go any earlier than I have to because of the air sac being small already. Also I’ve got the next batch in I’m assuming the high humidity for 3 days won’t hurt them - they’ve only been in 3 days.

 

[tuesdaze]

Lockdown usually begins after the end of day 18. Am I understanding correctly - you don't know exactly when day 18 is for this egg? If that is the situation and it is the only egg due to hatch at this time, I would choose to wait until there is an internal pip before beginning lockdown. You said you are running a dry hatch this time, so the extra humidity for three days should not be a problem for the other eggs in the incubator since they have only been in for three days. I would want to be sure to candle and mark the air cells on days 7, 14 and 18, just to make sure it was not a problem. I don't know what kind of incubator you are using, but even with a dry hatch the humidity can usually be lowered, if necessary, by opening more vents. It likely won't be three whole days of higher humidity if lockdown isn't started until there is an internal pip. My concern would be turning the other eggs during lockdown. Turning the eggs is critical during the first seven days of incubation. Are you using an automatic egg turner? Of course, the hatching egg should not be turned, so you wouldn't want it in the automatic egg turner, but having the other eggs in it may be a way to keep turning those other eggs during that time. Please let us know how it goes. I would love to see pics of the little one when he makes his appearance.

 

[Carlswani]

No I don’t the egg is now very gently rocking so I’m assuming I’m on day 18 now I haven’t had success incubating so far so I was hoping someone might be able to tell me from the pic

 

[tuesdaze]

I just saw your post after my long-winded edit . I personally can't tell from the pic, maybe someone else will jump in who can tell. I would still wait until I see an internal pip before beginning lockdown, that way he will for sure be ready for lockdown.

 

[tuesdaze]

I'm sorry! I just realized I replied to your other post also and that reply was also quite long-winded. I didn't realize both of these posts were by the same person. I'm guessing you are quite tired of my rambling now. Please feel free to tell me to be quiet anytime! I hope you will forgive me! Welcome to BYC!

 

[Carlswani]

Never! I’m greatful for the time you’ve taken to try and help me - how else will I learn?

 

[Carlswani]

So I raised the humidity up to 70% on Monday and yesterday she still hadn’t hatched and I’d heard chirping for over 24 hours so I ended up intervening. She was completely shrink wrapped and I’m assuming all the others were too I wish now I’d opened them up. Is this because I broke lock down? The incubator is so full of moisture you can hardly see in there! Can the chicks shrink wrap before pipping? The membrane was so dry it was white! Her head was stuck under her wing and there is no way she could have reached the shell to open it by herself