Incubator Newbie Advice

[E.M. Silkies]

Ok so I'm new to the incubator thing. Is there any words of advice that anyone out there can share? You know, the kind of stuff you would do if you could do it all over again? I'm not sure what kind of incubator it is. It belongs to a friend. But I think it's just a plain starter type.

Oh, and what is "lockdown" ?? I've seen it in several posts and I'm not sure what it means...

 

[Ariel301]

"Lockdown" is where you don't turn the eggs and avoid opening the incubator for the last few days before hatching. I don't know what day it starts on, someone else can supply that...I have to open mine several times a day to put in more water.

My advice is to be sure to have a good thermometer/humidity gauge. And have extras because you never know when the one in there will start lying to you!

 

[ghillie]

Find out what kind of incubator it is and find instructions for that particular incubator. Read all the threads on here about incubating. Spend the money for good thermometers and hygrometers and double up on them. That is what I would do if starting again. Lockdown is at day 18 when you candle the last time, quit turning them, up the humidity and sit back until they pop out......

 

[paddock36]

Lockdown is the last three days of incubation when you should not turn the eggs, increase the humidity, and wait for your chicks to hatch. Although not everyone is as strict on lockdown and I'm one of those and have never had a problem.

As far as any advise, I would say don't give up. It's a learning experience and there's always someone on here that can answer any questions you have. If you post a picture of your incubator I'm sure someone can tell you what type it is. So what type of eggs are you planing to incubate? Do you know how to turn them and what your temp and humidity should be in the incubator?

Oh and

 

[E.M. Silkies]

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. But what I believe is that the temp. is supposed to be 99 degrees F. and the humidity is supposed to be between 60-75. (I hear there's some debate on the subject) What is the best way to turn them if I don't have a turner? And what is the best candling method? What am I supposed to look for on the different days to know the right progress is being made?

I'm ultimately going to be incubating Silkie eggs(if need be, they are supposed to be good broodys) But I think I'll practice with my Jersey Giant/Araucana mixes just to get the hang of it.

 

[paddock36]

Is your incubator the still air type? Depending on the incubator you temp might a tad higher. I mark my eggs with X and O and little arrows so I don't forget which way to turn them and turn them a half turn (180 degrees) when you do turn them, but only a half. Such as half to the right, then next time back to the left so you are never turning them in a complete circle. In this picture you can see how I mark my eggs.

 

[E.M. Silkies]

What is safe to mark an egg with? I've heard some things can bleed through and mess up your eggs.. Suggestions on what to use?

 

[gryeyes]

I use a sharpie pen. Gosh, I hope that's okay.......

 

[kathydoolittle]

I have been told to use pencil to mark the eggs

 

[paddock36]

I use a shapie pen too and never had any problems. I've tried pencil but sometimes on dark eggs it is hard to see.