Really need help re: lockdown

[LuvinMyPeeps]

Yes, I was wondering the same thing. Hovabator does make car chargers for the incubators...why can't you use one of those? And take a heat lamp with you and a box for when you get there? You could set up a makeshift brooder?

 

[SarahIrl]

Not as yet am going to try and get one this week. It's pretty warm here (about 15C to 18C) at the moment and fairly humid out so if I tape the lid onto the incubator to make sure it stays sealed and put on the heaters in the car we should be ok, although we'll be roasted by the time we get there! Just advice really on what to do with the eggs when I lock them down Saturday? Do I put them in an egg carton although they have been on their sides since setting? Do I put a small flannel/facecloth in the bottom to add extra water to instead of a water well? And do I warp the whole thing in a towel (restricting fresh air) for the 50 minute drive, or just hold it under the heaters?

 

[SarahIrl]

Will have a brooder and eat lamp, will take the same one I plan to use at home, and just bring them back in a cardboard box as chicks. That's hoping they make it. It will be day 22 when we leave, so any unhatched will be candled when I get hoje that night, and if needed re-set until the 24th day.

Do I spritz the eggs with warm water when I take chicks out to keep the others moist?

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

If it were me I would leave them in the bator and not open it for dear life until they've all hatched. I'm not sure what kind of bator you have but if you can, I would bring a thermos with
VERY hot water and an eye dropper or infant's nose bulb and if the humidity level drops while in the car you could drip some hot water into a straw onto a sponge (the straw inserted in the air hole of the bator). I've done that before and it raises the humidity a bit so I don't have to open the lid. Perhaps if you did that all the way there you'd be okay.

As far as the way home, once they've hatched I would just keep them warm with the car heat on. I can't see anything else you can do - maybe a few camping heat packs in their brooder just so they won't get chilled.

If some still have not hatched, you can take the others out, but only if the other eggs have not pipped. Be careful because sometimes you can't see the pip if it's on the side of the egg, so if you open the bator you will shrink wrap the others.

Did this help?

 

[SarahIrl]

Helped greaty, thanks! We will arrive on the Monday, they are due to hatch Tuesday night/Wednesday and we leave again Friday so all going well they should be done by the time we are packing p to go Friday afternoon. Any not already hatched will stay in, and will check the Friday night at home for movement. With good luck, I will only have to open the bator on the Thursday to remove chicks and shell.

I'm certainly going to pack them upright in an egg carton. And use the very hot water/dropper idea, I can leave in one sperator bar in the incy to make sure when I drop in hot water they don't get splashed.

Also, a towel on the floor of the incy not a tray, as I'm worried that if a tray splashes water I'll wet the eggs and they'll get cold.

Should I wrap a towel over the bator if I can't get a power converter?

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Get the power converter. We just got back from vacation and I took my Rcom Suro King incubator with us and had a great hatch. The converter worked like a charm...you will be glad you used it.

Just be sure to take some feed and a small dish for water if the chicks are going to be in the bator more than 2 days.

 

[SarahIrl]

I have a tiny chick water fount and a feeder tray for them, they'll be getting hard boild chopped eggs to start then mixing in crumb from day three or four onwards until a week old and just on crumb

 

[SarahIrl]

Got a power converter today, so shall be fine for travel!!

Got home yesterday to find that the day we travel the power company are cutting power to my house from 9am until 5pm anyway, so they're actually safer travelling with us after all!!!