Hi all! I was thinking (yes, I know, a strange occurence)... that so many of us first time hatchers post some of the same basic questions, over and over again, because this forum is so thick with interesting topics its hard to find the answer without being distracted
. Perhaps we should make a little Q and A session for really basic questions such as -
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Q - What is Lockdown?
A -
Lockdown is a stage in artificial incubation, 3 days before the expected hatch, when the turning of the eggs is stopped to allow the chicks time to orient themselves properly for hatching. The incubator is kept closed during this time, to keep the temperature steady and the humidity at the desired level, thus you can imagine putting a lock on the incubator and swallowing the key (Not advised. Please note - Squishy is not responsible for any medical ramifications resulting from this explanation).
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Q - What are my Lockdown & Hatch dates? (Calling Gryeyes! May I use your answer to others? I have it ready!)
A -
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Q - What is my desired Incubation Temperature?
A -
In an incubator with Moving Air (Forced Air, Turbo Fan, PC Fan) the thermometer should read 99.5 degrees - Top of egg temperature (thermometer resting on the eggs or an egg-height substitute).
In an incubator with Still Air (Thermal air) the thermometer should read 101.5 degrees - Top of egg temperature (thermometer resting on the eggs or an egg-height substitute). The difference in temperature is necessary because the air inside a Still Air incubator rests in layers, with colder air lower down, warmer air up above.
Internal egg temperature should be 99.5 degrees +/- 1 degree.
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Q - What is my desired Incubation & Lockdown Humidity?
A -
Pre-Lockdown (day 1 - 18) incubator humidity should be somewhere between 35% - 50%.
During Lockdown (day 18 - 21) incubator humidity should be raised to somewhere between 50% - 75%.
Anyone want to add to this answer for us please?
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Q - What is "Dry Incubation" & How is it done?
A -
Q - When to take my chicks out of the incubator?
A -
Q - When & How to do the float test?
A -
Q - When to toss eggs?
A -
Q - What is a detached air cell & What is the prognosis for the egg/embryo?
A -
Q - How to help a chick with an unabsorbed yolk sack?
A -
Q - What is & What to do about spraddle legs?
A -
Q - Using a broody hen?
A -
Q - Popular in-expensive incubators & Popular expensive ones?
A -
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Q - Common term definitions... Pip, Zip, Duds, Quitters, Blood ring?
A -
"Pip" The chick has breached the shell with a small beak-sized hole, you may see the chick playing peek-a-boo!
"Zip" The chick has cracked the shell extending from the pip, reminiscent of a zipper opening, it shouldn't be long before the chick has hatched!
"Duds" The egg was never fertile at all, this can be difficult to accurately ascertain.
"Quitters" The egg was fertile, and the embryo did develop, but died anywhere between day 1 of incubation and hatch.
"Blood ring" Evidence of an early quitter, the ring you see when candling the egg, is the blood from the developing embryo that has leaked post-mortem.
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And any other ideas for the Q and A you might have? I was hoping to stay away from the "to help - or not to help" discussion, because thats really based on specific circumstances and might be better discussed as the issue comes up for people. I'll change the body of this post as we go along and hopefully we can wind up with all the answers for those basics on the first page. Thanks everyone!
Ps- I dont mind being out-voted on anything! Changes in wording, corrections on facts, ect. Forever your editing servant....
Keep the lines or get rid of the lines between questions?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Q - What is Lockdown?
A -
Lockdown is a stage in artificial incubation, 3 days before the expected hatch, when the turning of the eggs is stopped to allow the chicks time to orient themselves properly for hatching. The incubator is kept closed during this time, to keep the temperature steady and the humidity at the desired level, thus you can imagine putting a lock on the incubator and swallowing the key (Not advised. Please note - Squishy is not responsible for any medical ramifications resulting from this explanation).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Q - What are my Lockdown & Hatch dates? (Calling Gryeyes! May I use your answer to others? I have it ready!)
A -
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Q - What is my desired Incubation Temperature?
A -
In an incubator with Moving Air (Forced Air, Turbo Fan, PC Fan) the thermometer should read 99.5 degrees - Top of egg temperature (thermometer resting on the eggs or an egg-height substitute).
In an incubator with Still Air (Thermal air) the thermometer should read 101.5 degrees - Top of egg temperature (thermometer resting on the eggs or an egg-height substitute). The difference in temperature is necessary because the air inside a Still Air incubator rests in layers, with colder air lower down, warmer air up above.
Internal egg temperature should be 99.5 degrees +/- 1 degree.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Q - What is my desired Incubation & Lockdown Humidity?
A -
Pre-Lockdown (day 1 - 18) incubator humidity should be somewhere between 35% - 50%.
During Lockdown (day 18 - 21) incubator humidity should be raised to somewhere between 50% - 75%.
Anyone want to add to this answer for us please?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Q - What is "Dry Incubation" & How is it done?
A -
Q - When to take my chicks out of the incubator?
A -
Q - When & How to do the float test?
A -
Q - When to toss eggs?
A -
Q - What is a detached air cell & What is the prognosis for the egg/embryo?
A -
Q - How to help a chick with an unabsorbed yolk sack?
A -
Q - What is & What to do about spraddle legs?
A -
Q - Using a broody hen?
A -
Q - Popular in-expensive incubators & Popular expensive ones?
A -
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Q - Common term definitions... Pip, Zip, Duds, Quitters, Blood ring?
A -
"Pip" The chick has breached the shell with a small beak-sized hole, you may see the chick playing peek-a-boo!
"Zip" The chick has cracked the shell extending from the pip, reminiscent of a zipper opening, it shouldn't be long before the chick has hatched!
"Duds" The egg was never fertile at all, this can be difficult to accurately ascertain.
"Quitters" The egg was fertile, and the embryo did develop, but died anywhere between day 1 of incubation and hatch.
"Blood ring" Evidence of an early quitter, the ring you see when candling the egg, is the blood from the developing embryo that has leaked post-mortem.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
And any other ideas for the Q and A you might have? I was hoping to stay away from the "to help - or not to help" discussion, because thats really based on specific circumstances and might be better discussed as the issue comes up for people. I'll change the body of this post as we go along and hopefully we can wind up with all the answers for those basics on the first page. Thanks everyone!
Ps- I dont mind being out-voted on anything! Changes in wording, corrections on facts, ect. Forever your editing servant....
Keep the lines or get rid of the lines between questions?
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