Opening incubator during lockdown

[Tillyschickens]

I opened my incubator on day 19 because one of my eggs had rolled so it was slightly in the water. I only had it open for about 5-10 seconds to dry it and move it back. Will this effect the eggs? As far as I know none have internally pipped

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

I have opened the incubater during lockdown before too. I had a normal hatch rate yours should be fine.

 

[ladybrasa]

Depends on your incubator. It is important to keep humidity up during lockdown. If you are able to open the incubator to do what you need to do quickly and then the humidity destabilizes quickly you should be fine. But if you open it, loose the humidity, and it is difficult to get it back up or takes a long time, that might be a problem. Things to help are adding warm water to your reservoir and/or adding a warm damp washcloth to get the humidity up quickly.

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

warm damp washcloth

Or sponge

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Can chicks fall in the water when they hatch?

 

[Tillyschickens]

Can chicks fall in the water when they hatch?

No ive made sure to make the holes smaller the incubated that I'm using is for normal sized eggs but the bantam eggs I'm using is quite small

 

[Tillyschickens]

Depends on your incubator. It is important to keep humidity up during lockdown. If you are able to open the incubator to do what you need to do quickly and then the humidity destabilizes quickly you should be fine. But if you open it, loose the humidity, and it is difficult to get it back up or takes a long time, that might be a problem. Things to help are adding warm water to your reservoir and/or adding a warm damp washcloth to get the humidity up quickly.

Thanks I added warm water and my humidity seems to have gone up fast so hopefully that hasn't affected them. does anyone know if bantams acctually hatch on day 19 I'm now on day 20 and no signs of internal pipping so I'm starting to worry

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Don't worry, chicken eggs hatch on day 21 no mater what the breed. Some cases you will see an earlier hatch, but it's usually because of a higher temperature during incubation. Don't worry too much if they're a day late, as well.

 

[Tillyschickens]

Don't worry, chicken eggs hatch on day 21 no mater what the breed. Some cases you will see an earlier hatch, but it's usually because of a higher temperature during incubation. Don't worry too much if they're a day late, as well.

Thanks! this is my first time incubating so everything is worrying me.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Thanks! this is my first time incubating so everything is worrying me.

It'll be fine. The best thing you can do is be sure your temperature and humidity is correct before setting your eggs, and just watch and wait until lockdown, and of course there is this website if there are any issues or questions.

Good luck with your hatch