Confirming pheasants lockdown

[Maiahr]

I finally have fertile pheasant eggs in the incubator (after two unsuccessful attempts last year). Just need a confirmation of the lockdown date. I set the eggs on May 8th, is Lockdown on May 29th?

 

[muddy75]

Yes May 29th would be correct lockdown for pheasant eggs hatching on day 23-25.

 

[Maiahr]

Thank you @muddy75 , I am excited... My very first pheasants.

 

[muddy75]

Thank you @muddy75 , I am excited... My very first pheasants.

Ringneck or ornamental?????

 

[Midnightman14]

Lockdown is a myth I've never bothered with it and my hatch rates are great.

 

[Maiahr]

Ringneck or ornamental?????

I have no idea. I bartered the pheasant eggs for chicken. Will send you pictures when they hatch.

Lockdown is a myth I've never bothered with it and my hatch rates are great.

So what do you do then? Leave them on the turner?

 

[muddy75]

I have no idea. I bartered the pheasant eggs for chicken. Will send you pictures when they hatch.


So what do you do then? Leave them on the turner?

For mine, I incubate around 45% RH for first 21 days. I remove the turner at day 21 and raise humidity to 65% by the first external PIP or day 23. If only a few eggs, and concerned, you can candle to look for internal pip.

 

[007Sean]

Lockdown is a myth I've never bothered with it and my hatch rates are great.

I have to agree with you! I hate that term "lockdown" sounds like jail/prison.
It just happens to be a 'phase' in the incubation period.
I don't practice it but if they are actually hatching when I look into the bator I don't open it up...if they have pipped, I will if something is outta wack, like low humidity, to add water. It hasn't hurt my hatch rates either! I don't even candle as much anymore....I know what's taking place in the bator.

 

[007Sean]

I have no idea. I bartered the pheasant eggs for chicken. Will send you pictures when they hatch.


So what do you do then? Leave them on the turner?

I actually do leave mine in the turner, the turner is off but sometimes I have had the turner still operating when they hatched. Only problem that occurs with doing this is if I'm hatching button quail, they will occasionally get caught between the rails(in a head lock) I tend to have better hatch rates when they hatch in a vertical position, rather then a horizontal one.

 

[Maiahr]

Ok, nothing hatched this time. Not even one (out of 13 eggs). The eggs were fertile and developing, I didn't candle at lockdown so I don't know at what stage the embrios died. It is very possible that the incubator messed up the temperature, as it was a brand new one and I assumed the factory settings are ok and didn't check with external thermometer. I am not planning to open the eggs, will wait for another day and then throw them away. And the search for pheasant eggs begins again... (This will be my 4th time).