When is lockdown for chicken eggs?

[lolotsung]

It's my first time incubating, I have read Lockdown is on day 17, day 18, and now found a University of Connecticut 4-H website saying Day 20? Please see the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoH6XEHL3Rk. Please help, I'm confused.

[kenya]

Lockdown has always been day 18 but people are always coming up with new ideas, but I would stick to the tried and true.

[Killerbunny]

What she said ! Day 18 works. Day 20 can be a bit late if you have chicks coming early e.g. the temp is a bit off or bantam breeds.
Good Luck.

[lolotsung]

Thanks @kenya @Killerbunny ! So candle on the 7th, 17th, and lockdown on the 18th is the tried and true right? We candled on the 7th and I'm not sure about 2 of them but I think at least 6 are alive. April 11th is hatch day

[Kbr42]

@lolotsung remember to turn the turner off and raise the humidity for lockdown.

[Killerbunny]

I would only candle at 7 days and at lockdown on 17th or 18th day.

[lolotsung]

@Kbr42 Thank-you for the reminders...we are the turners so we are ok with this. LOL.
@Killerbunny so on day 18 we candle and lockdown. Great! Thank you.

[Killerbunny]

Also remember when they start to hatch they can stay in there for at least 2 days so don't be tempted to pull any out, that may drop the humidity. ALso as they start to hatch the humidity will rise form the hatching chicks.
Also there is a very important rule here - baby chick pictures must be posted so we can all enjoy them LOL!

[lolotsung]

So on day 23 assuming all 8 hatch we move them out of the incubator which does not have food and water and to the brooder which has chick food and water. We have a chick waterer so they can't drown in it right?

What is the plan if for example 7 out of our 8 eggs have hatched by day 23? Do we leave one in the incubator and move 7 to the brooder or maybe leave them there for longer eg. another day? At some point in time do we assume the egg that has not hatched has died? Do we candle it to see if it is alive?

Will do! I love taking photos!

[Kbr42]

So on day 23 assuming all 8 hatch we move them out of the incubator which does not have food and water and to the brooder which has chick food and water. We have a chick waterer so they can't drown in it right?

What is the plan if for example 7 out of our 8 eggs have hatched by day 23? Do we leave one in the incubator and move 7 to the brooder or maybe leave them there for longer eg. another day? At some point in time do we assume the egg that has not hatched has died? Do we candle it to see if it is alive?

Will do! I love taking photos!

It's not a hard and fast rule, the 23 days. Typically, you wait until all the chicks that have hatched are dry before opening the incubator. There is a possibility that not all hatch. That's where experience comes in handy. If and when you get to that point, ask questions, most of us have done some crazy things hatching chicks and have lots of experience. What day of your hatch are you on?