First batch of eggs ever starting today!

[The Breaker]

I'm so exited took the eggs out of the turner and putting them in lock down they should hatch this Saturday for those of you who don't now i have 17 blue splash maran eggs in.

 

[DCasper]

Can I ask where you purchased them and how the service is?

 

[The Breaker]

I did not purchase them online I bought them at an incubation seminar

 

[rlwt]

Let us know how the hatch goes. I am still a little fuzzy on how lockdown works and what to look for/wait for. I mean I know that humidity needs to increase and not to bother the eggs but should I be around when they hatch? Does that matter? Will the chicks hurt each other or themselves if they are not taken out soon?...I have another week or so until lockdown so just wondering how the experience goes.

I'm so exited took the eggs out of the turner and putting them in lock down they should hatch this Saturday for those of you who don't now i have 17 blue splash maran eggs in.

 

[The Breaker]

I am a little fuzzy on the lock down idea to but as fare as I know Increase humidity and don't open the incubator for any thing except too put water in

 

[hdowden]

lockdown: if eggs are in turner take them out and cease turning all together, if turning by hand then you cease turning all together, also increase humidity to 65-70%. only open the incubator if you need to add water, i use the vent holes with a straw sticking down to the area were the water sits and pour in water that so i dont have to open the incubator

 

[hdowden]

i leave the chicks in until they are completely dry they will kick around the other eggs that still need to hatch but they wont hurt themselves. after they hatch it will take them a few to get proper use of their legs and i guess you could say that the other eggs are used as crutches for those who have hatched

Let us know how the hatch goes. I am still a little fuzzy on how lockdown works and what to look for/wait for. I mean I know that humidity needs to increase and not to bother the eggs but should I be around when they hatch? Does that matter? Will the chicks hurt each other or themselves if they are not taken out soon?...I have another week or so until lockdown so just wondering how the experience goes.

 

[Squawkbox]

Okay, but what i'm wondering is, when the chicks start hatching, won't they release humidity as well, thus upping it? So, do I put my humidity at about 60% and hope that when they start hatching it bumps up a bit, or do I set the humidity to 65-70 from the start of lockdown?? I hope that makes sense lol.

also increase humidity to 65-70%.

 

[hdowden]

my humidity didnt really increase that much when they started hatching, although some do get humidity spikes when they start to hatch. my last hatch here i had my humidity at 65 and they all did just fine not to wet and not to dry when they started hatching

Okay, but what i'm wondering is, when the chicks start hatching, won't they release humidity as well, thus upping it? So, do I put my humidity at about 60% and hope that when they start hatching it bumps up a bit, or do I set the humidity to 65-70 from the start of lockdown?? I hope that makes sense lol.

 

[Cynthia12]

Okay, but what i'm wondering is, when the chicks start hatching, won't they release humidity as well, thus upping it? So, do I put my humidity at about 60% and hope that when they start hatching it bumps up a bit, or do I set the humidity to 65-70 from the start of lockdown?? I hope that makes sense lol.

I have found whether I am using a still incubator, or an air, I keep my humidity just above 60, 62 being ideal. Sometimes when I fill the water again, it will go up to 64, but that's the highest I let it go. I get less "wet" chicks that end up drowning in fluid when they internally pip.
The first one to hatch can raise humidity, especially if you have a small bator that only holds a few chicks. I use a larger bator, not a cabinet one though. When I have one hatch, the humidity goes up around 66..so not usually real high. Don't worry about the humidity spike at this point, even if it does get up to 70ish. That's how I do it. I think that you will do better, than you think you will!

I have three pips in my pure lavender Ameraucanas this morning!! Due to hatch tomorrow, I think I will have a couple of early ones.

I have Australorp and more Ameraucanas to go into lock down next Tues. Lots of babies coming.