Lockdown - what and why?

[MiddleChild]

I keep seeing this term - seems to imply that it's a necessary step in hatching.

I have 11 eggs under a broody hen, who shares space with 3 other hens. Just before hatching I intend to move the family into a separate living area so the chicks can get in and out of the nest in a predator-proof place where they won't be able to sift right through the fence. So what does "lockdown" mean in this case??

 

[muddyhorse]

with a broody there is no need to lockdown. in lock down in an incubator you stop turning the eggs on day 18 ( chicken eggs), and increase the humidity. you leave them alone hence the lockdown. good luck on your hatch

 

[MiddleChild]

Ah-HAH! Now it makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Rbl4life]

what i dont get though is the fact that when the eggs are under the hen, she doesnt up the humidity at the end she just stops turnung them. Why do we have to make it so much more humid??

 

[pattgal]

at the risk of sounding stupid, why is lockdown on day 18? there are 21 days of incubation. you lockdown for the last three, shouldn't lockdown be on day 19?

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
21- 19=2

 

[BawGock]

My version of "lockdown" is stop turning on day 18, increase humidity on day 19.
Gives me one more day of dry down time.
Carolyn

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
I think it's because (like in the incubator) she won't turn her eggs on the last 3 days and will not get up to eat or drink either (it's like she is locked down) by not getting up at all, she is letting the humidity build
another interesting fact, someone on here told me the hen can hear her chicks and talk to them. I don't know how true it is but it could be what causes her to lock down and what causes a hen to toss some eggs and keep some....

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
21- 19=2

I know this is a really stupid question,
do you count the day you put them in or do you start counting the day after. me and DH go through this debate all the time. I count the first day, he doesn't.

 

[Rbl4life]

Quote:
I think it's because (like in the incubator) she won't turn her eggs on the last 3 days and will not get up to eat or drink either (it's like she is locked down) by not getting up at all, she is letting the humidity build
another interesting fact, someone on here told me the hen can hear her chicks and talk to them. I don't know how true it is but it could be what causes her to lock down and what causes a hen to toss some eggs and keep some....

ya that makes sense i guess, i have heard that she can talk to them too!