LOCKDOWN

[koris]

I am going into lockdown today. This is my first time and I have a staggared start. Day 1 2 and 3. Today is day 18,17 &16 for the eggs. I am a little worried about day 3's eggs making it out. But I am crossing my fingers and being hopeful!! I have thought about putting day 3's eggs in an egg carton to keep them safe from the first 2 sets of eggs while they hatch, but have read that they soak a lot of water up. I am just hoping I am making the right choices for these babies! I have 14/16 still alive at this point.
I think on my next batch, depending on how this hatch goes, I am going to turn my LG still air into a forced air with a little fan to see if that will change the game for me! If not, I may just get rid of the LG and buy a better one for this hobby of mine! I think it would be a great investment.....

Wish me luck and I will keep in mine any advice that is given along the way. I have also started using the windows on the top to get in and out of the LG incubator, which I have noticed make a big difference with holding in the temp and humidity while I am looking at the eggs....

Well, I am off to start my lockdown and do a candle on the babies!!!! So excited and nervous at the same time......

QUESTION.... Does it matter how the air bubble sits when you go into lockdown, or just make sure the pointy end is lower than the big end???????????????

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

QUESTION.... Does it matter how the air bubble sits when you go into lockdown, or just make sure the pointy end is lower than the big end???????????????

From my undestanding this is true. I have only hatched one other time, but I removed my eggs from the turner and laid them down for lock down. I have never left them to sit large end up, but I do see others on here doing that...? Best of luck to you, would like to see pictures. RO

 

[koris]

Day 19. I am sitting here anxiously awaiting the eggs to start moving! I go check in on the incubator every 10 minutes. Humidity is around 65-67%. I am thinking about putting a wet sponge in tonight, for day 20. I don't want humidity to go over 75% (which I feel may drown them). But I am worried if I don't put the sponge in they may get sticky in the eggs.

I must say that the first incubation is the hardest, especially when you have made it this far with live eggs! I have 14 out of 16 left and am just hoping I did a good enough job to hatch at least 6-10! Regardless of how many I hatch I will be turning the still air into a forced air, along with quiet a few other changes!

 

[chickydee64]

Day 19. I am sitting here anxiously awaiting the eggs to start moving! I go check in on the incubator every 10 minutes. Humidity is around 65-67%. I am thinking about putting a wet sponge in tonight, for day 20. I don't want humidity to go over 75% (which I feel may drown them). But I am worried if I don't put the sponge in they may get sticky in the eggs.

I must say that the first incubation is the hardest, especially when you have made it this far with live eggs! I have 14 out of 16 left and am just hoping I did a good enough job to hatch at least 6-10! Regardless of how many I hatch I will be turning the still air into a forced air, along with quiet a few other changes!

Your humidity 65-67 sounds perfect......................
I do not always see much movement................
They rest and get into position before hatching............
For sure it is hard waiting but always worth it..............
Good luck.and you may already know this.but just in case............They sometimes hatch later............
I have had a few 25 day hatches in my LG still air........but usually finished by day 23.
Good Luck.................

 

[koris]

Day 20, and I can't say that I am patiently waiting , because I am not! Just so excited to see a sign of life. Temp is stable and so is humidity. I thought I seen an egg move this morning, but I think I just wanted to see it move. My kids are telling me I am going crazy. My husband said, " I am surprised that you aren't setting on them yourself"....

I am a crazy mama hen right now....

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

We can understand your excitement. I just told my wife last night it was sad to see my incubator turned off. I have had it on for the last 3-4 days making sure that everything is set for next month when we start our first hatch. I Love that everyone shares their hatches on here, I get just as "eggcited" and nervous for everyone else. You will do just fine, everything sounds perfect in your incubator. Keep us posted on your pips they will come soon enough, and then you will have all the confidence in th world. Maybe you would like to do a hatch-a-long? I am going to set my incubator on the 9th of March. I am going to start another thread for it. Looking forward to your hatch.

RO

 

[koris]

Well Now I am super excited!!! I did see positive movement and called the kids to see and they seen it too! I have a staggered set in the incy. on days 20, 19 and 18. It was egg #5 which is day 19 in that egg.
I have a temp gun and using the still air I see how the air isn't the same through out the incy. I am thinking days 2 may hatch before day one because day 2 and 3 are in a higher temp than day 1 is.

My husband will be turning the incy into a forced air for next set up, with hopefully and alarm to let me know of temps. I won't do a staggered hatch again either... to stressful. But I think I will come out alright for the first hatch experience!! I have hope now!!!

I also found a way to raise humidity as needed without opening the incy. I have a small plastic tube I can put into one of the small holes ( used and extra tube from my nebulizer) and a medicine syringe that you use to give kids medicine. It hooks right onto the tube and I squirt a little water through it and it put me right back where I wanted to be, 67% humidity....

I will keep updates and post pix when this happens! My eggs are a mix. I have 4 Americana eggs, 10 RIR and Orphington eggs. My rooster is americuana, and my banny rooster is his son so he is a mix of cochin/ amerucana.... So I am super excited to see these Lil mutts!!!

 

[koris]

Two chicks out. One at midnight and one at 9:45! I seen the second one come out of the shell. Such an amazing experience this has been... I may get lucky and hatch 10 out of 14. I know about 3 of the eggs are dead....

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

That is a good hatch. Congratulations on the new fluffy butts.