Can I switch incubators for lock down? Please any info will be greatly appreciated!!

[Foreverlovnlife]

Due to different lock down days I am having to put eggs in different incubators. I have ducks and chicks right now. All are alive and kicking but they have diffrent lock down days. I also have a still air and forced air bator. Has anyone done this before? Help!,

 

[davemonkey]

I have read several posts where people have 2 incubators...1 for incubating, and 1 for hatching. They take the eggs from the "incubater" at Day 18 and put them into the "hatcher" for lockdown. Perfectly fine. Is that what you are asking?

 

[PrairieChickens]

I know lots of people run constant hatches by incubating the eggs in one incubator and hatching them out in another. When it comes time for lockdown, they just take the eggs out of the "setter" incubator and move them to the "hatcher". If it helps put your mind at ease, remember that even during "lockdown", a mother hen would still be getting off the nest to eat, drink, and poop, so the brief times you would have to open the incubator to hand-turn eggs while other eggs are in lockdown would not be a problem. I would just avoid opening the incubator if any chicks are zipped to avoid the risk of "shrink wrapping" them.

 

[KYBOY]

Have done it many times..just try to leave it closed after you start the lockdown.

 

[Foreverlovnlife]

Awesome thanks for the advice!! Which would be a better hatching incubator still or forced air?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Forced is better in both cases. In the hatcher, it helps dry the chicks.

Adding a computer fan and using an old power inverter off an old cell phone or other device is often less than a $4 adaptation to install.