Will this kill my chicks???

[Ranger 45]

I have some eggs that due to hatch sterting on the 11th of this month and others a few days after. I was doing some reasearch online about what to expect when they hatch and i read they you are not suppose to turn the eggs the last 3 days or they will die. Is this true?

 

[Cat Water]

I don't know if they will die, but you should NOT turn them the last two or three days.

 

[Kelly G]

Quote:
Yes, it's true....you should stop turning them on day 18th to let the chicks orient themselves for hatching...it also coincides with the time frame that you raise your humidity levels inside the incubator......and then DO NOT OPEN the incubator until the hatch is complete.

If you do open it, you run the risk of allowing the exposed membranes of a hatching chick to dry out. It essentially dries up around the chick and it cannot struggle free...and it will die. It's what's referred to as "shrink wrapping," and it's not good.

Others with more experience than I have will post more info for you, but we're all probably going to give similar advice.

 

[dolly85]

I've never turned them that late but I've seen several posts where people had chicks hatch in the turner. I've also seen broodies move eggs around that are about to hatch and they do fine as well.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Yes, it's true....you should stop turning them on day 18th to let the chicks orient themselves for hatching...it also coincides with the time frame that you raise your humidity levels inside the incubator......and then DO NOT OPEN the incubator until the hatch is complete.

If you do open it, you run the risk of allowing the exposed membranes of a hatching chick to dry out. It essentially dries up around the chick and it cannot struggle free...and it will die. It's what's referred to as "shrink wrapping," and it's not good.

Others with more experience than I have will post more info for you, but we're all probably going to give similar advice.

x 2

It's called "lockdown".

 

[debilorrah]

Stop turning for those three days and then put them back on the turner. I just went through this with some duck eggs. I am hoping they aren't stuck. I will have to pay attention to them during THEIR lockdown. And I just set 24 more eggs this morning in the same bator. You think you have issues!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The turner is not safe for the hatched chicks to be on but being turned the last 3 days will not kill them.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Since you have WAY more experience with hatching than I do, I set the chickens today with the ducks who go into lockdown on Tuesday. That will be day 3 for the chickens. I am assuming because it is early enough in the hatch, that they will be ok off the turner for lockdown for the ducks. Is this correct?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I think I would roll them around an mist the ducks at the same time 3X a day until the first duck hatches an starts doing that job for you.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Leave them on the turner? Not? These are test eggs for a friend and I really want them to hatch.