Turkey hatching trouble shooting

[guitari609]

I have a friend who has been trying to hatch Narragansetts, he just hatched his first round this weekend. Some of them are my eggs. Out of 19 eggs he had 3 hatch on their own. He also had three that pecked a hole, but after over a day of trying, never made it out, so he helped them out, which I know most folks say not to do.. Now two of those that he helped out basically have toes that are sort of curled under their foot. Also when he went to turn off the automatic turner, on day 25, he already had some pecking out! He has the Hovabator 1588 I believe. He has checked the temperature several times and it's always close to 100. I have seen folks talk about the lock down or something to that effect, is this just the end of egg turning, or should you not open the incubator at all after the 3rd or 4th day before hatching is due? We are having all sorts of issues here! I'm trying to eliminate some of them. Any help here?

 

[debilorrah]

Ok, I advocate helping chicks out but only when it becomes obvious they cannot do it themselves. You can bandage their curled toes out straight for a few days to fix that part.

Lockdown happens three days before hatch date, and that is when you remove the turner, increase humidity, and stop opening the bator. I usually have to open mine to add water, but NEVER open it after a chick has pipped (poked a hole in the egg). If you, chances are that chick will dry out quickly and wind up with the membrane dried and wrapped around it (shrink wrapped).

I have 5 pips in mine right now!!!

 

[guitari609]

So you shouldn't open the incubator at all until they have all hatched?