Day 18

[Chickenperson13]

I was wondering if opening the incubator on day 18 or 19 can kill the chicks even if it only for like a min or two?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I was wondering if opening the incubator on day 18 or 19 can kill the chicks even if it only for like a min or two?

No. There is a small risk to opening the bator while you have pippers/zippers. If there are no pips there is no risk. I open my incubator during hatch to remove chicks, sweep out shells and assist if I feel necessary. I keep my humidity up around 75% to keep my risks almost non existant. I have 90%+ hatch rates.

Here's the thing: If you have chicks pipped and you open the bator without adequate humidity there is a slight risk of causing complications to the hatcher due to membranes drying out. Many swear that it causes shrink wrapping. I argue that fact, but acknowledge a more likely scenerio and that is glued chicks. If that inner membrane dries out it will cause the membrane to glue to the chick at the areas of exposure, if it is not caught and corrected eventually a bigger majority will dry and the chick will become glued by the membrane and be unable to finish the process of hatching.
Logically, if your humidity is up in a decent range and you aren't standing there with the incubator open for long durations and your humidity recovers in a timely fashion the risks are very slight. If you have lower humidity and are constantly opening the bator, your risk increases significantly.

Can you safely open the bator during lockdown and hatch, in my opinion and experience, yes. As long as you realize the points that have an impact on the decision. Adequate humidity, (any time you have low humidity during hatch, the important thing is to get the humidity up, even if you have to open the bator,) length of time you are exposing the eggs to outside air, dryness of the outside air, how quickly your humidity is recovered after opening the bator.

As frequently as I open the bator during hatch I have never had a chick pip or start a zip and die in the shell.

There are many people that disagree and there are many that are strict do not open the bator after lockdown and will swear it will compromise your hatch. In the end you have to decide what you are comfortable with and what works for you. If you feel there is a bigger risk or even that a small risk is not worth it, then you should go with that and not open. If you are comfortable with your humidity and opening the bator, then don't let other's make you feel you are wrong as long as it's what is working for you and your hatches.