Remind me again... When do you start counting incubation days?

[AmyLynn2374]

Eggs go on lock down Friday. Do I replace the plug?
Fill both or one trench with water?

I leave both my plugs out/vents open (but I have them open for the entire incubation.) At lockdown I fill all wells and I add a couple wet sponges above the screen to get my humidity up to 75%.

 

[Allie3513]

I actually only have 1 plug.. Think mine was missing the other when it arrived. Oh well.
So the humidity will stay stable on its own during lock down?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I actually only have 1 plug.. Think mine was missing the other when it arrived. Oh well.
So the humidity will stay stable on its own during lock down?

How long it'll stay up depends on wether you are opening the bator or not and how much. When I am not opening the bator it will hold 75% very well until the sponges start drying out. If I am opening the bator (which I do,) I have to wet my sponges more to keep the humidity from dropping too low.

 

[Allie3513]

I plan to not open, but I don't have to worry about it getting to high?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I plan to not open, but I don't have to worry about it getting to high?

Not really. Unless you start seeing condensation on your windows. Then I would cut back. Mine hits 80+ w/o condensation, but it never stays that high cause I'm a meddler. Over the first 17 days high humidity can compromise a hatch by not letting the egg loose enough moisture, but at lockdown it's not going to compromise, or it shouldn't compromise your hatch. If you aren't opening the bator during lockdown and hatch, you can safely run 65% w/o too many worries. Someone like me who does open (I take out the chicks and shells and roll my pips back over and if neccessary I will assist) a higher humidity suites me better so when my humidity does dip, it's still above the "safe zone".

 

[WVduckchick]

I lockdown on Friday also! Good luck to us!!

 

[Allie3513]

Well we hve chicks! They are a day early.
My humidity has been about 73, but now running 76 with hatched chicks.
Are they safe? That's seems a little high to me

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well we hve chicks! They are a day early.
My humidity has been about 73, but now running 76 with hatched chicks.
Are they safe? That's seems a little high to me

I hatch at 75% and it often goes up past 80%. As long as you have your vents open they are safe. They might take a little longer to fluff up if you leave them in the bator. Congrats!!!

 

[Allie3513]

The vents are open. Since they started hatching early.. When do I open the bator? Will all the eggs open by then? I hadn't planned to open until Wednesday so this has thrown me off my game plan. They went on lock down Friday afternoon.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

The vents are open. Since they started hatching early.. When do I open the bator? Will all the eggs open by then? I hadn't planned to open until Wednesday so this has thrown me off my game plan. They went on lock down Friday afternoon.

That's totally a personal decision in my opinion. I open and remove chicks frequently during hatch. That's why I keep my humidity up. My last two hatches were 92% and 100%. I don't believe in leaving chicks in the bator for two and three days. Many people do and many people believe that opening the bator is a bad thing. (Which if you have low humidity or leave it open I would agree you are more prone to have problems.) Everyone of my hatches (except the first) I have opened with no ill effects. I strongly believe that a hatcher should do what is comfortable for them. If a person is comfortable removing chicks and they have adequate humidity, they shouldn't be afraid to pull the chicks out. If they are uncomfortable with opening the bator then they should wait.