Incubating chicken eggs

[Kateb910]

Was wondering if anyone had any advice. This is my second hatch, im hoping for a better hatch rate this time. I have a forced air incubator, what is your thoughts and experience with ventilation at lock down and during hatch on day 21. Also if i set my eggs at 3:00 pm the first day, do i go on lockdown on 3:00 pm when counter says 4 (day 18) days left or 3 days day 19). Any advice and experiences will be greater appreciated. Thank you

 

[Rooster G]

I have gone to full ventilation from day one thru the entire hatch and it has been fine. The day you set the eggs is to be counted as day one.

 

[Kiraeh]

I also go full ventilation from day one. I'd rather fill the entire bottom of my incubator with water to maintain humidity than risk not having enough air. (also I have a homemade incubator so no plugs for my vent holes anyways). It's not possible to have too much ventilation- I go for as much as I can get and still maintain temperature/humidity.

It doesn't matter if you lockdown on day 18 or 19. You can stop turning anytime after day 14. Some people don't lockdown until they see an internal pip. You can raise the humidity anytime after the eggs have lost enough moisture for a good size air cell.

 

[Kateb910]

I also go full ventilation from day one. I'd rather fill the entire bottom of my incubator with water to maintain humidity than risk not having enough air. (also I have a homemade incubator so no plugs for my vent holes anyways). It's not possible to have too much ventilation- I go for as much as I can get and still maintain temperature/humidity.

It doesn't matter if you lockdown on day 18 or 19. You can stop turning anytime after day 14. Some people don't lockdown until they see an internal pip. You can raise the humidity anytime after the eggs have lost enough moisture for a good size air cell.

My problem is the eggs are too dark to see much of anything

 

[Kiraeh]

Watching development is fun and you learn a lot, but all you really need to see is if the air cell is growing well and has a crisp border. If you can't see internal pips, just lockdown by day 19, but it won't hurt to do it the day before either.

 

[Kateb910]

Watching development is fun and you learn a lot, but all you really need to see is if the air cell is growing well and has a crisp border. If you can't see internal pips, just lockdown by day 19, but it won't hurt to do it the day before either.

My first hatch was pretty easy to candle, these eggs are difficult. Thank you

 

[Kiraeh]

Haha yeah I feel you, I got spoiled by lovely pale silkie eggs my first hatch, you could see everything with those, now I'm incubating orpingtons and they're not even that dark but I need a really bright light in a really dark room to see veins on some of them.

 

[Kateb910]

Haha yeah I feel you, I got spoiled by lovely pale silkie eggs my first hatch, you could see everything with those, now I'm incubating orpingtons and they're not even that dark but I need a really bright light in a really dark room to see veins on some of them.

Yes me too!! And still hard, some sadly are too dark to even see a air cell, so in 6 days the hatch is going to be interesting, keeping my fingers crossed!!!