Really need help re: lockdown

[SarahIrl]

Ok, have a weeks holidays booked for 17th to 21st May. We are going to stay in a house 40-50 mins drive away. Lockdown is on the 15th. Can I transport them locked down? Will not be able to plug in incubator in car so will sit on hot water bottles and wrap the whole thing in foil and a towel. Am I going to kill them all? Or should I locate two broody hens to sit on 10 eggs each and leave them at home? (I have someone to feed and water them)

I'm terrified my first hatch will be a disaster, I obviously can't count as I thiought they'd originally hatch a week earlier.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

If it was me---since the vacation home is only an hour away---I'd leave the bator at home, drive home on day 22 and check things out.
I wouldn't risk transporting the bator---the one hour without heat, the jiggling of the car ride, etc...

Good luck

 

[SarahIrl]

I don't drive, and we're staying in a rented apartment with others. Leaving the bator at home isn't really an option. If I can get power to it do you think it'd make the car journey?

 

[SarahFair]

If you have someone to feed and water them I would just leave them at home in the bator. Just get your brooder ready to where the person has to only plug the light in.
Have them come out on day 22-23.


What kind of bator you are using would also factor in, IMO.
For example, there is NO way I could take my LG in the car. I would loose them all! (specially if my SO was driving

)

 

[SarahIrl]

Novital Covatutto 24, currently with turner but am going to switch that off on Saturday 15th. Then going to set eggs point down in modified egg cartons for hatching, so will be extra stable too for transport. I don't see any other way to do it, I can't find anyone with a few broody hens to lend me so they'll have to come. I'll put wet towels in the base to keep them moist as I know the water well will probably spill. If I get them ready to transport when I lockdown two days before we go they'll be grand If I have any early hatchers they can come with in a cardboard box and I'll set up a brooder when I get there.

What we go through for feathers!!!

They'll be fine, check here in 14 days and I'll tell you all how their big adventure went!!!

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

I would not transport them during lockdown by any means. The purpose of lockdown is to keep the incubator from getting messed with at all. To have them rolling around (which will happen no matter how careful you drive) defeats the purpose of not turning them so they can orientate themselves for pipping and zipping. Also to deal with temp/humidity fluxuations would be a disaster. At that point they will be fully formed in their shells, a very hard time to lose them

Is it that you CAN"T leave the bator at home or do you not want to leave it at home? If you absolutely cannot leave it you would be better off moving prior to lockdown. Possibly to the house of the person who is able to help you feed and water them or taking them to the vacation house early? In that case I would suggest taking them out of the bator for the trip and packaging them very securely and getting them back in the bator asap. You will have to closely moniter the temp and humidity when you plug the bator back in so you don't have any spikes while it evens out. This is what I would do....

 

[SarahIrl]

I plan on packing them in an egg carton bottom in the incubator and sitting the whole thing on my lap with a damp towel over it. Will pt them in egg carton before lockdown Saturday. I can't leave them as there's nobody to care for them when they hatch.

Wish me luck!!

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

gosh, I was going to offer to help you until I realized you're in IRELAND!!!!!!!!! LOL...kinda far from VA...

Good luck!

 

[SarahIrl]

Luvinmypeeps - advice here would go a long long way on the best way to wrap this thing up and take it with me.

 

[mayberrygirl]

Do you have power inverters there?? It plugs into a cigarette lighter type plug in your car and has a regular outlet to plug into.