I'm not home on day 18, when to start Lockdown?

[beckymom3]

Okay, I am not organized enough to do this!

I am working out of town from the afternoon of day 17 until mid-morning of day 19. When should I set up my incubators for Lockdown? Day 17 or 19? The eggs were set late in the evening of March 18 (about 9 pm), which by some accounts makes the true day 1 on March 19, with Lockdown on April 6.

I have no friends or family that can come by on day 18 or that know anything about hatching eggs.

What a silly chicken I am for not planning this better!

And, no, I can't cancel my work shift!

To make matters even more complicated, 12 of my 42 eggs in one incubator are due for lockdown this Sat April 3. Talk about poor planning..... Luckily, I have another incubator I can put them in for happy, stable and safe hatching. It's just those late eggs that are throwing a kink in my plans!

Any advice will be much, much appreciated!

 

[Kittymomma]

Just lock them down a day early. I was supposed to go into lock down tonight, but they were peeping this morning when I turned them and I had pips this afternoon. Ooops, it's after midnight so I guess that was yesterday. Anyhow there are 7 pips now and they should have only been on lockdown for about 4 hours. Starting a day early won't hurt anything and may even be a good thing.

 

[brendapa]

Yes, do it the day earlier. Have great hatch!

 

[kathyinmo]

I just had a 100% hatch with marans eggs that I forgot to put on lockdown. They were at 34% for 20 days, and on day 20 I put them in lockdown at 60%. They all hatched late day 21 and AM of day 22.

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

I would put them in lockdown right before you leave , i have had to lockdown a day early and hatch did just fine.

Fay

 

[beckymom3]

Thanks, folks!

I think you are right, do it the day earlier. That way, I know they'll have the humidity in case anyone pips. The worry I'll have, though, is whether the humidity will be up throughout lockdown as I won't be there to add moisture. How high is too high knowing I'll lose some for the day and a half I'll be gone? Should I pump it up to 70%, 80% right before I leave?

I've been dry incubating so far. I'm using a Hova Bator forced air, 1583. It's been very steady throughout this incubation so I trust if I set it up right, they'll do fine while I'm gone.

Thanks!!!!

 

[beckymom3]

Quote:
See, it's stuff like that I think is hilarious because of all the fussing and overthinking I do! These are shipped eggs, so another part of me thinks they probably will hatch later rather than earlier. But for the one or 2 that might pip early, I will worry if that humidity isn't pumped up!