Dry incubation.

[Bantu]

I am surprised at his size. I don't know if you can tell how much larger he is than the other two. Maybe they are pullets.
I'm going to set 3 more Cochin Brahma mix eggs on the 21st
. The almanac says they will be healthier, bigger and pullets will lay more eggs.

 

[moving coops]

Your Cochin barred rock is bigger than Cochin brahma, correct?

I think the barred rock would increase speed of growth and egg production!

 

[LittleMoss]

Hi,
I just wanted to check when lockdown should be? I started incubating my eggs late afternoon on Saturday 4th February. Lockdown should be day 18, shouldn't it? But the end of day 18 or the start - if it was the start, then I guess that would be late afternoon on Tuesday 20th February - or would it be late afternoon on Wednesday 21st? I'm not sure how much it matters, but I want to get it right! Thanks for your help.

 

[feedman77]

I'm thinking lockdown should be the 23rd. Hatch on the 26th

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hi,
I just wanted to check when lockdown should be? I started incubating my eggs late afternoon on Saturday 4th February. Lockdown should be day 18, shouldn't it? But the end of day 18 or the start - if it was the start, then I guess that would be late afternoon on Tuesday 20th February - or would it be late afternoon on Wednesday 21st? I'm not sure how much it matters, but I want to get it right! Thanks for your help.

Late on the 22nd will be great---they should be all hatched by late the 25th if your temp is correct. Your day counting starts at day 0 the day you put them in, day 1 would be 24 hours later(Sunday evening in your case), etc. I have put mine on lock--down on day 17 and day 19(because of not being there on day 18) with no effects on my hatch. Lock-Down in my opinion is just what it say----you raise the humidity and Lock-Down till all that are going to hatch----have Hatched----not opening it anytime before that Time for NOTHING. Water would be added through a vent hole or what ever way you got it figured to add without opening. That's Lock-down.

Why some say they are going into lock-down then keep opening it day after day, even when the chicks start to hatch to remove one or two is beyond me! I would break someone's arm if they tried to open mine before the hatch is over----Just Saying. Good Luck

 

[LittleMoss]

Hi,
Thanks for your replies. I've just weighed and candled my eggs. The air sacs look mostly good (hard to see in some of the brown eggs, we have some brown and some white, and I'm new to all this so not very confident!) The weights seem rather low, don't know if any of you ever check the weight and calculate the percentage weight loss? I'm planning to put a tiny bit of water in now, because I'm a little worried about the weight loss, and am imagining the chicks all shriveled up, and then lockdown tomorrow evening.
Some of the eggs look full, apart from the air sac, others not so, but I'm not throwing any out - I don't know enough to do that!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hi,
Thanks for your replies. I've just weighed and candled my eggs. The air sacs look mostly good (hard to see in some of the brown eggs, we have some brown and some white, and I'm new to all this so not very confident!) The weights seem rather low, don't know if any of you ever check the weight and calculate the percentage weight loss? I'm planning to put a tiny bit of water in now, because I'm a little worried about the weight loss, and am imagining the chicks all shriveled up, and then lockdown tomorrow evening.
Some of the eggs look full, apart from the air sac, others not so, but I'm not throwing any out - I don't know enough to do that!

I do not weigh, I just set the humidity for the incubation and usually only candle on day 18 when I am ready to lock-down and raise the humidity.

The eggs you are saying that do not look full----if it just more looks like a transparent glob---you can take them out---or do this---take one out and open it---you will probably see a few day old embryo that died days ago and then you can remove the rest that looks like it. If its a dark egg with a air space mostly on one side----I would leave it. The problem with eggs that are no good is they start to rot and can explode in your incubator-----That is a mess and will gag a maggot. If you are not going to remove the possible dead eggs----do put then to your nose and smell them good---if you smell a little rotten smell---you better remove it. Good Luck

 

[LittleMoss]

Please can someone tell me what the temperature should be for lockdown for dry incubation? Not sure if it's at all different than the temperature for wet incubation? And also what humidity does anybody aim for? Not sure if we'll be able to control it much, but I'd like to know what other people think is okay? Thanks.

 

[LittleMoss]

By the way, thanks PD-Riverman - we smelt the eggs and they all smell okay, so we'll leave them all in.

 

[Bantu]

Please can someone tell me what the temperature should be for lockdown for dry incubation?  Not sure if it's at all different than the temperature for wet incubation?  And also what humidity does anybody aim for?  Not sure if we'll be able to control it much, but I'd like to know what other people think is okay?  Thanks.

Temp stays the same. Just bring the humidity up to 65%