"Lockdown"?

[sonoralinda]

If you wanted to keep your eggs big end up at lock down instead of laying them down, you can let them hatch in cartons with the bottoms cut out.

 

[My chickadee]

Ok I didn't know that. Thank you. Still no stirring. Just checking to see if anyone's clutch was hatching on hatch a long. Good night.

 

[My chickadee]

Well, The first pip came around 8:48. We planned to do some Spring cleaning out today but I think we are going to be huddled around the Mother Henabator! I know its still too early but the Rooster is maybe 5yrs old, he's a rescue and my humidity has been as high as 90 on one hydrometer and 79 on the other The average stays around 60-74 degrees so I'm worried. When could they drown due to high humidity?

 

[cluckerkeeper]

The chicks don't drown because of the high humidity at lockdown. If the humidity is too high during incubation and the air cell doesn't lose enough fluid then when the chick pips internally (the membrane) it sometimes can't get away from the fluid in there before it pips the outer, hard shell and drowns.

It should take around 12 hours from first outer pip to hatch although some just zip themselves out before your eyes. Congratulations, enjoy and keep us posted!

 

[My chickadee]

Oh no! If the chicks do not hatch and you break them open to see what may have happened, how will you know this?

 

[cluckerkeeper]

What I usually see is a fully developed chick, typically with it's head tucked down or under it's wing. A healthy fully formed chick with no deformities should have no problem hatching.

When they don't and there is a lot of fluid in the egg, it's a good guess that humidity was an issue.

 

[lazy gardener]

Did you say all of your vents are closed? Those little eggs/chicks need some air. You can open vents and keep the humidity up by adding a damp sponge. Good luck with your hatch. I set eggs last night.

 

[lazy gardener]

Did you say all of your vents are closed? Those little eggs/chicks need some air. You can open vents and keep the humidity up by adding a damp sponge. Good luck with your hatch. I set eggs last night.

 

[My chickadee]

We had one hatch!!! The 5th one piped and piped until it came out!

 

[cluckerkeeper]

Fantastic!