Question about humidity, lockdown, and etc.

[Tropical Chook]

Sorry if these questions have been answered elsewhere, but I'm dying to know ......

Why is is that everyone talks about lock-down, and things like changing the temperature and humidity once day 18 is reached? Surely when a broody is hatching, the temperature and humidity remain the same. I've also read that the eggs shouldn't be disturbed at all as from day 18, and yet on day 19, my broody still disturbs her eggs when she leaves the nest to eat and drink?

Please, I'm not trying to go against the norm here, it's just that I'm very curious about this. Any advice will be much appreciated

 

[ChooksChick]

I think it's because it is often difficult for chicks not hatching via a natural mother, and often having been shipped, the chances are even more diminished. We can't recreate mom altogether, but this system appears to work well as a substitute.

I disturb mine. I'll own up to that. I am a looky-loo!

 

[paddock36]

I would say that the chicken knows better than we do and we are just trying to duplicate the process. I quit turning eggs at day 18 but I have opened the incubator and removed chicks to give other eggs room to hatch without causing any problems during hatching.