Confusion about "LOCKDOWN"

[Nitin Kumar]

Hello Everyone,

Let me start by telling you that I started incubating eggs on 01/16/2014. Due to heavy snowfall there was a power failure and I stopped the incubation after two days. Then again I started the incubation with new eggs on 01/23/2014. From the first batch (from 1/16/14) two eggs are still developing and its day day 13 today and for the rest of the eggs its day 11 . I am confused when should I start the LOCK DOWN, since for the two eggs its 7th of February and rest of the eggs its 9th of February.

Could you please tell me what would be the best time to start the lock down?? 7th, 8th or 9th.

Thank you

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You can stop turning the eggs on the 7th, The later hatching eggs don't need to be turned to the 18th day, it just makes it easy to stop that and up humidity at same time. The higher humidity for a few extra days shouldn't effect much either especially if you shoot for 55-60%.

 

[Nitin Kumar]

You can stop turning the eggs on the 7th, The later hatching eggs don't need to be turned to the 18th day, it just makes it easy to stop that and up humidity at same time. The higher humidity for a few extra days shouldn't effect much either especially if you shoot for 55-60%.

See this has been one of my issues since the beginning. I did a lot of research and probably you also know that a lot of people keep the humidity at 45-50, some 50- 60 and some 55- 65. so i took the middle one. I have been keeping the humidity level at 50 to 60. after lock down what should be the humidity ?

 

[Skhan]

its very simple......just turn those 2 eggs till day 18......and stop turning them and keep turning the rest of the eggs...but keep the humidity high upto 70% .......with this condition the 2 eggs will also hatch and will not effect the rest one......but while turning the rest one just do not disturb the first batch eggs......hope this helps u

 

[Nitin Kumar]

its very simple......just turn those 2 eggs till day 18......and stop turning them and keep turning the rest of the eggs...but keep the humidity high upto 70% .......with this condition the 2 eggs will also hatch and will not effect the rest one......but while turning the rest one just do not disturb the first batch eggs......hope this helps u

But its a lock down. I don't think I am suppose to open the incubator at all. what say?

 

[Skhan]

for the first batch when it will be lockdown day or day19 then it will be day 17 for second batch......just open the incubator for twice a day,for few seconds and just turn those second batch eggs.......donot insert your hand it will be a wide opening use a clean stick to just turn dose eggs......for opening the incubator for few seconds should not disturb the condition inside.......

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You don't have to turn eggs after day 15ish. People only continue to do it until the higher humidity during the 3 day hatching period to make things simple. So you don't have to open the incubator at all or turn any eggs.

As for humidity most people run lower humidity then up it to around 60% during the last three days. A few run around 50-55% straight through with great success too. You say that's where your at already is 55%ish, I'd keep it there then.

For reference, the humidity numbers are not as important as what's going on in the egg. If you candle you'll see how the air sac is growing over the incubation period. I adjust my humidity to keep to the model of good air sac size. For me and house humidity it means I run 35-40% until hatch days for good growth of the air pocket then up to 55% as normal.



Reason for a good size air sac is when the chicken internally pips it needs an air space to pip into or it can't breath. Note the above diagram is only a reference and not exacting science- as long as there is open air space they can breath.

 

[Nitin Kumar]

You don't have to turn eggs after day 15ish. People only continue to do it until the higher humidity during the 3 day hatching period to make things simple. So you don't have to open the incubator at all or turn any eggs.

As for humidity most people run lower humidity then up it to around 60% during the last three days. A few run around 50-55% straight through with great success too. You say that's where your at already is 55%ish, I'd keep it there then.

For reference, the humidity numbers are not as important as what's going on in the egg. If you candle you'll see how the air sac is growing over the incubation period. I adjust my humidity to keep to the model of good air sac size. For me and house humidity it means I run 35-40% until hatch days for good growth of the air pocket then up to 55% as normal.



Reason for a good size air sac is when the chicken internally pips it needs an air space to pip into or it can't breath. Note the above diagram is only a reference and not exacting science- as long as there is open air space they can breath.

Thanks a lot. I guess you resolved my issue. I appreciate your time. Thank you again.

 

[Nitin Kumar]

You don't have to turn eggs after day 15ish. People only continue to do it until the higher humidity during the 3 day hatching period to make things simple. So you don't have to open the incubator at all or turn any eggs.

As for humidity most people run lower humidity then up it to around 60% during the last three days. A few run around 50-55% straight through with great success too. You say that's where your at already is 55%ish, I'd keep it there then.

For reference, the humidity numbers are not as important as what's going on in the egg. If you candle you'll see how the air sac is growing over the incubation period. I adjust my humidity to keep to the model of good air sac size. For me and house humidity it means I run 35-40% until hatch days for good growth of the air pocket then up to 55% as normal.



Reason for a good size air sac is when the chicken internally pips it needs an air space to pip into or it can't breath. Note the above diagram is only a reference and not exacting science- as long as there is open air space they can breath.

So do you mean that I should not up the humidity and keep it 55 % or 60 ??

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Right, that's my recommendation. Others may chime in with other info or opinions but think that's a safe bet.

My first incubation attempt I know I drowned the chicks. Basically incubated at 60-65% then up to 75% last three days. All were fully developed but only one hatched. My belief is that the air sac was not large enough and what size it was was filled with water do to being so rediculusly humid. Since then I've had great hatches and keep humidity 55-60% during "lock down". I shoot for 55 and know it will go up once they start to hatch.