Lockdown problems. Please help.

[Crimsonchicken]

Ok, I set these eggs on Saturday, March 9 at 4:30 am. I know, weird time. I thought today is day 18. Am I correct? Well, I've marked air cells on day 14 and then just a minute ago. Some of the air cells haven't changed at all. A few have gotten a good bit larger. Most of these eggs are saddle cells due to shipping. The eggs are 10 seramas and 2 silkies. They all seem to have live chicks that are taking up most of the space in the egg. One looks further behind? One egg has an air cell that has barely changed since day 1. Oddly, it's the only shipped egg that doesn't have a saddle cell. Incubating temps have been holding at 99.5 with only minor .1 or .2 degree fluctuations. Humidity has been kept between 40 and 45 mostly. Sometimes between 45 and 50, never going below 37. Soooo, do I go ahead and lockdown, or should I wait another day? I'm using a Brinsea octagon 20 advance with turner. I have opened the incubator once daily to candle or add a little water. Help?

 

[Bill 101]

You are correct on your lock down date, however you have a lot of "iffy" things going on ie: air cells. I'm pretty sure the one that hasn't changed is not good, the ones that don't look different than they did on day 14 are questionable, so at this point about all you can do is lock down & wait.

 

[stefan333]

Sometimes with shipped eggs air cells can do some funny things, so I doubt you could have done anything differently with the humidity to change that. I've found that even with odd air cells, as long as they're not completely detached and flopping all over the egg, chicks still find their way out. Just lock them all down anyway. It's a good sign that there are live chicks in there taking up most of the space. As far as the lockdown date day 18 is just a reference point. Whether you lock down on day 17 or day 19 it won't hurt anything.

 

[bHen]

I personally use a little less humidity in that same incubator. Tough it does depend on the humidity in the room as well. I would lock them down but wait for the first pip to really increase humidity (especially if you are already in the 40's) so that they don't drown when they pip. Good luck!