INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Crafty chick]

Momma~ lockdown is where you don't turn or touch the eggs, and increase the humidity.

 

[CluckAcres]

Guys I'm learning and have a dumb question. What is lock down when incubating eggs? I'm asking cause I will be setting up my bator tonight and adding 10 of my own silkie/ ameraucana eggs to it Friday. This is my first try at incubating and need as much help as possible.

There is never a dumb question! Lock down means you dont open the lid or do anything to incubator for the last 3 days no turning eggs as well. Just like jail once they close the bars on the cell your stuck and you just sit there, Make sure on day 18 you add enough water/ sponges to make humidity go up. Once eggs start hatching that will make humidity go up as well. If you have any more question feel free to ask. Plus here is a very helpful link for you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 You can also find it in our members-events-links page in my signature.

 

[CluckAcres]

Momma~ lockdown is where you don't turn or touch the eggs, and increase the humidity.

plus open lid! Very important!

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

Thanks, I thought thats what it meant but I figured I better ask to make sure. I will be setting up my incubator in the morning and letting it run until Saturday, try to get the temps to hold steady for a few days before I add my eggs. I have 8 eggs right now but will be collecting the next few days until I am happy with the way the incubator is holding its temps.



Here are the eggs I have so far, 6 silkies and to silkie/ameraucana mix. I'm not sure if those are fertile but the silkies are for sure. I hope to collect a few more eggs from her before I put them in the incubator, I think they will be interesting to see grow up and what they look like as adults.



I'm pretty sure this one has a bullseye but we ate it the other night, the kids wanted scrabbled eggs.

 

[CluckAcres]

Can we get a pic of your incubator? I always like looking at what others use.

 

[Crafty chick]

Thanks for that cluck. It will be soooo hard to not want to candle them or move them. How much water should I add at lockdown? Just put a couple more containers in? I candled tonight, a little early, but 3 for sure had veins! My DH said "yeah, ok, if that's what you say".

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

I have a Little Giant still air incubator. I'm just starting out and I need to start out with something easy to cut my teeth on. I plan to buy a better one later on but right now, this will work for the amount of chicks I plan to hatch. I'm just doing it for fun and just for mysef.

 

[CluckAcres]

Thanks for that cluck. It will be soooo hard to not want to candle them or move them. How much water should I add at lockdown? Just put a couple more containers in? I candled tonight, a little early, but 3 for sure had veins! My DH said "yeah, ok, if that's what you say".

Ok this might sound funny but I soak 2 tampons and lay them in there plus what i would normally put in the incubator.

 

[CluckAcres]

I have a Little Giant still air incubator. I'm just starting out and I need to start out with something easy to cut my teeth on. I plan to buy a better one later on but right now, this will work for the amount of chicks I plan to hatch. I'm just doing it for fun and just for mysef.

Nothing wrong with using the LG. I use the same thing as well. The chicks i just hatched came from my LG. Just a little tip: I dont take the plugs thats on top out at all.

 

[bwindell]

Wow! I sure doesn't take long to rack up the pages here! We are all such gabbies!! LOL! Welcome to all the new folks on here since I was last on and sorry some of you have not had pleasant experiences elsewhere. We all have a lot to learn and I would hope no one here would ever be hateful to anyone seeking knowledge.

To my co-editors: I've added those that were not on the list. To everyone, please check out the member list and make sure we have you ON the list as well as have the correct information for you. It helps other members to know where you are, (at least your county), and what breeds of birds and types you have. Spring is right around the corner and everyone is getting chick fever!