How critical is the 18 day to the hour for lockdown?

[Tacswa3]

I began incubating a batch of eggs on 1/17/19 at 1230 AM. 18 days is tomorrow Feb. 3. Do I or should I place them on Lock down (No egg turner) at 1230 am on the 18th. Or can it wait til later in the morning? And I raise the humidity at this time correct??

 

[R2elk]

I began incubating a batch of eggs on 1/17/19 at 1230 AM. 18 days is tomorrow Feb. 3. Do I or should I place them on Lock down (No egg turner) at 1230 am on the 18th. Or can it wait til later in the morning? And I raise the humidity at this time correct??

It is not critical at all. It doesn't even matter if you are off by a full day. You can put them in lockdown at your convenience and raise the humidity at the same time.

I know one woman who did not put any of her eggs into lockdown until she saw that they were internally pipped which means they were about 24 hours from hatching. Others have mistakenly gone to lockdown a day or two early with fine results.

Good luck.

 

[Tacswa3]

Thank you