Possible late hatch??

[Pookie_Momma]

I have a question............ my temp and humidity dropped and the eggs are on day 16, i know that the eggs should mostly be dark when candled but only half to 3/4 they way they should look. should i still go into lock down on day 18 or should i wait?

the eggs have very active silkie babies moving but they just look a bit smaller compared to my last batch.

I am at a loss here on what to do about lock down or just keep rotating till i see a pip?

anyone help please need advice.

 

[HEChicken]

If it were me, I would probably lock down on schedule.

 

[the Pollo Loco]

I would proceed with lockdown as normal, just let it do its thing...

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd probably stay with the normal lockdown. I don't know how long they were at a lower temperature. Them taking longer to hatch due to low temperature is the average incubating temperature over the whole time, not just a quick short-time drop. A short drop probably would not affect the overall average that much.

Lower humidities can speed up the hatch a little, maybe countering the temperature drop. Of course, lower humidities can cause shrink-wrapping too. Again, it is more of an average than a one time drop during incubation. During lockdown, after they have pipped, it is different.

Since there are so many unknowns and lockdown is not anywhere near an exact science, I'd probably stay with the 18 day one. I think the really critical part of lockdown is to be sure you get there before they start to pip.

I've had some that had pipped when I went onto lockdown and they hatched fine anyway. I've also shrink-wrapped chicks by opening the incubator during hatch. There are a lot of inconsistencies about hatching.

 

[djennings]

I have been hatching silkie chicks also. My silkies have been pipping in the incubator that has the turner in it. It's like early around 5 am on the 18th day. I have a styrofoam incubator for hatching, so I grab all the ones that are due and put in it at humidity between 65 to 75 percent, seems to work great, all have hatched so far.

 

[Pookie_Momma]

Thank you all for your advise I will lock down on day which is late thursday night.

Have my fingers crossed because i really want them to hatch because they are silkie mixes of bearded, bow tie, and a couple more that i am not sure of.


thanks again