FORGOT about Lockdown!

[AlienChick]

I can't believe I forgot about lockdown!

I check the 'bator every morning and keep a log of temps/humidity in an Excel spreadsheet.

This morning was Day 19. (I guess I must have missed yesterday.)

I pulled out the auto-turner and added water (humidity had dropped to the 30's).

One of the eggs was chirping very loud.

Within 5 hours that chick had hatched (a white Silkie).

(I love the sounds of chirping in the house.)

I've got 34 more chicks waiting to hatch (Silkies, Seramas, and d'Uccles).

I put 40 eggs in the 'bator and had to throw out 5 duds and ended up with 35 to go into lockdown.

Gotta go get that brooder ready!

 

[chkinut]

i would think they would be fine. some people don't even put their eggs into lockdown till day 19. let us know how the rest of the hatch goes!

 

[NYRIR]

Nice!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Congratulations! Sounds like you are well on the way! I'm sure photos will follow?

Had that chirping egg external pipped when you went into lockdown? To me, the important thing is to raise the humidity before they external pip to reduce the chance of shrink-wrap. if they have not external pipped, I think that risk is really small. Once you get used to your incubator, you better know when to go into lockdown.

I've had a few externally pipped when I went onto lockdown a couple of times. My incubator was running a little warm, so they were early. It took me a couple of hatches to get the temperature right. Anyway, I did not shrink-wrap every chick that had pipped when I did that. I did shrink-wrap one once but not all that had pipped and none the other time. Shrink-wrap is something that can happen, not necessarily will every time.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

I had chirping when I went into lock down. I quickly locked down without even candeling the remainders, LOL. That chirping paid off I have 3 hatched and one pip.

Glad your little peeper reminded you of lock down

 

[AlienChick]

Normally I'm waiting impatiently for lockdown/hatching time.
That's why it caught me by surprise that this one slipped passed me.
I wasn't too worried and all is fine.
I now have six chicks that have hatched so far.
There are others pipping.

 

[iluvsedward]

I've misjudged lockdown to the point when I go to turn and hear peeps.I am bad with remembering when I set them so I judge by candling. "Eh, he's got about 3 days.." *next day* "Mother of broken eggs!! theres a chick in the incubator!!!!!!"

 

[AlienChick]

lol

Too funny!

I've been hatching back-to-back for the past few months.

Maybe this is a sign to take a break.

. . . But what do I do with the 30 eggs I have waiting???

My problem is I hate to not hatch the eggs.

I gotta see a therapist.

 

[iluvsedward]

me too, I believe i haven't turned my bator off since Feb.!

 

[NYRIR]

Yep, been plugged in for quite a while now.....can't remember how long...