Incubating Chicken Eggs Part 3- Lockdown & Hatching by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | April 25, 2023 This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information.
For those of you following along in our homestead Incubating series, part three covers the last two big parts of incubating chicken eggs: lockdown and hatching! If you have just joined us, you may want to check out the previous two parts of the series. To store fertile eggs and get your incubator ready, we talked about how to do that in Incubating Chicken Eggs Part 1. In Incubating Chicken Eggs Part 2 we covered setting the eggs and candling them. Now it is time to prepare the incubator for lockdown and hatching! Finally, the three week wait is over and we get to watch the eggs hatch!.
Lockdown refers to the last steps that are taken before eggs that have been incubated are set to hatch. Lockdowns happen three days before the eggs are due to hatch, which is based on the incubation cycle of each type of bird.
Chickens have an incubation cycle of 3 weeks, or 21 days. For incubated chicken eggs, lockdown occurs on the 18th day, which is three days before the estimated hatch day.
In nature, a broody hen doesn’t necessarily do a lockdown, however, she is a lot more in tune with her developing eggs than we can ever be. She knows when they no longer need to be turned, when the embryo starts to internally pip or move into hatching position and when more humidity is needed. Since we can’t know exactly what is going on inside the egg, we have to generalize. Experience has shown that there are some steps we can take before the eggs are scheduled to hatch that will mimic what a mother hen does for her incubating eggs.
To simplify things, I have narrowed it down to about five key operations to do during lockdown. You can perform these tasks any time on day 18.
For bantam chicken eggs, lockdown will occur 1-2 days sooner since the smaller eggs have a shorter incubation cycle. Bantams usually have an incubation cycle of 19-20 days.
If you are hatching multiple batches of eggs in the same incubator but they were set at different times or are different sizes, it may be a good idea to move the eggs that are ready to hatch to a ‘hatcher’ at lockdown. A hatcher is basically another incubator that is set to the proper temperature and humidity for hatching. Whether you use same incubator the eggs are incubated in or are using a hatcher, the steps for lockdown are the same!
Lockdown is an important part of the process of laying chicken eggs. It gets the eggs ready to hatch and helps make sure the chicks are healthy. But when should you really shut down the incubator? It’s important to get the timing right.
What is Lockdown?
Lockdown refers to stopping the turning of eggs and increasing humidity in preparation for hatching. It allows the chick embryos to get into the proper hatching position.
During lockdown, the following happens:
- Stop turning the eggs
- Increase humidity
- Close the incubator and don’t open it
Lockdown makes it easy for the chick to break through the egg shell. So the chick can hatch, it keeps the egg membranes from drying out.
When to Start Lockdown
On day 18 of incubation, most standard-sized chicken eggs should be locked down. Here are some tips on timing .
- Large chicken eggs – Lockdown on day 18
- Bantam chicken eggs – Lockdown on day 16 or 17 due to their shorter incubation period
- Mixed eggs – Lock down all eggs on the earliest lockdown day
Lockdown should happen three days before the chicks are due to hatch. This gives the embryo time to get ready to hatch.
Some signs that lockdown day is approaching:
- Chicks are nearly fully formed when candled
- Veins have receded from the air cell
- Eggs feel lighter when weighed
While day 18 is typical, the timing can vary slightly. Factors like egg size, storage time, and incubation conditions impact development. Observe the eggs for signs they are nearing hatch.
How to Lock Down Your Incubator
Locking down the incubator takes just 5 main steps
1. Stop Turning the Eggs
Turning must stop so the chick can get into hatching position.
- Remove turning devices like racks or trays
- Place eggs lying flat on a non-slip surface
Don’t re-position the eggs again.
2. Increase Humidity
Raise humidity to 65-70% for hatching. This prevents membranes from drying out.
Add water or a damp sponge to increase humidity in the incubator. Monitor levels with a hygrometer.
3. Candle Eggs
Candle eggs on lockdown day to check development. Remove any eggs that haven’t progressed.
Look for signs like veins retracted from the air cell and embryo filling most of the egg.
4. Chick-proof Water
Cover any open water reservoirs. This prevents drowning once chicks hatch.
5. Close the Incubator
Keep the incubator closed until hatching finishes. Don’t open it unless checking humidity.
Opening the incubator causes temperature and humidity fluctuations. This can impact the hatch.
Signs Eggs Are Ready for Lockdown
Here are signs your eggs are ready for lockdown:
- Dark appearance when candled
- Embryo fills most of the egg
- Air cell enlarged at the top
- Light weight when gently handled
- Veins no longer visible in air cell
Trust your observations. With experience, you’ll know when your eggs are approaching lockdown based on their development.
What Not to Do After Lockdown
Once locked down, don’t:
- Turn or reposition the eggs
- Open the incubator frequently
- Candle the eggs again
Disturbing the eggs can prevent successful hatching. Let the chick pip out when ready.
Troubleshooting Lockdown Issues
If you notice problems at lockdown, here is how to troubleshoot:
Late pipping – Increase humidity. Membranes may be drying out.
Early pipping – Lower humidity. High humidity causes early pip.
Draggy hatch – Remove hatched chicks quickly. Their activity stimulates hatching.
Stuck chicks – Increase humidity. Membranes are likely too dry.
Monitor incubator conditions closely around lockdown time. Make small adjustments to get conditions right.
Locking down the incubator properly is crucial for a good hatch. Follow these best practices:
- Lockdown on day 18 for large eggs, day 16-17 for bantams
- Stop turning, increase humidity, close incubator
- Avoid opening the incubator once locked down
- Make small tweaks to humidity and temperature if issues arise
- Let chicks pip and hatch naturally without assistance
Pay close attention to your eggs as hatch day approaches. With some experience, you’ll get the timing of lockdown perfected!
Day 18 Candling (Lockdown)
Lockdown Step # Water Pot Guard (optional)
Before placing the lid back on the incubator, consider if any open water sources need to be covered. Water pots and reservoirs are used throughout incubation to help maintain the proper humidity levels in the incubator. When it’s almost time for the chicks to hatch, make sure there is no open water where they could fall.
Depending on the brand and model of incubator you use, you may need to place a guard over any open water sources. You still want the water to be open to the air because humidity is still important during hatching, but you should also make sure that no chicks can accidentally get into the water.
You can skip this step if your incubator doesn’t have any open water sources. However, you might still want to check the inside of your incubator to make sure there isn’t anything else that could hurt the hatchlings (e.g. g. sharp edges, tight corners where chicks could get stuck, etc…).
In the Brinsea Mini Advance incubator, the water pot is left open for most of the incubation process. At lockdown though, you should place the water pot guard over it to keep newly hatched chicks from accidentally falling into the water.
Make sure your incubator is hatchling proof and chick safe!
How To “Lockdown” Chicken Hatching Eggs! The Last 3 Days Of Incubation, Day 18 Out Of 21
FAQ
Is 75% humidity too high for hatching eggs?
Ideal Humidity Ranges for Different Eggs Chicken eggs: 35-55% during incubation, 65-75% during hatching. Duck eggs: 50-60% during incubation, 65-80% during hatching. Reptile eggs: Varies depending on the species, but generally between 60-70% is common.
On what day do you stop turning chicken eggs?
Days 18-21: Pre-hatching You can do a few things to best help the baby chick prepare: Stop egg-turning at day 18 with the larger end of the egg facing up. At this point, the chick will position itself for hatching inside the egg. Maintain a temperature of 100. 5 degrees Fahrenheit but increase humidity to 70 percent.
How long to let chicken eggs sit before incubating?
The rule of thumb for time in storage is seven days. Eggs have been successfully kept for longer periods, but seven days is the longest you should plan to store your eggs. Hatchability chances decrease after the seven-day mark, due to vitamins decaying and the membrane breaking down.
When should chicken eggs be locked down?
For large sized chicken eggs this is at Day 18 of incubation. Bantam eggs tend to hatch earlier, at around 19 days into incubation, so they should be locked down at day 16. If you have one incubator holding both large and bantam chicken eggs and you don’t have a way of separating them, lock down all the eggs at Day 16.
How do you lock down a chicken egg incubator?
Chicken egg incubator lockdown, step 1: stop chicks from slipping. You need to prepare a non-slip surface in the incubator for the baby chicks when they hatch. Why? Chicks will start to move around immediately. They stumble around the incubator, into and over other eggs, into and over each other.
When should a bantam egg incubator be locked down?
Most bantam eggs hatch around 19 days after being laid, so they should be locked up on day 16. If there is no way to separate the large and bantam chicken eggs that are in the same incubator, lock them all down on Day 16. 5 simple steps to locking down your egg incubator.
When do chicken eggs hatch?
Lockdown operations are done three days before the eggs are scheduled to hatch, which is determined by each poultry species’ incubation cycle. Chickens have an incubation cycle of 3 weeks, or 21 days. For incubated chicken eggs, lockdown occurs on the 18th day, which is three days before the estimated hatch day.
What day is chicken incubation?
Chicken incubation, day 18. Today is probably the most critical day of any in the incubation process. It’s the day we make sure our chicken eggs have the ideal environment to be able to hatch safely as healthy chicks at around day 21. Chicken incubation at day 18 is known as “lockdown day”.
Should you incubate and hatch chicken eggs at home?
Before hatching eggs at home, you must know how it works. Buying an incubator and putting eggs inside does not result in successful hatching. Poor incubation may result in weak chicks, or excessive long incubation may kill your upcoming baby chicks. That’s why going through a definitive guide on incubating and hatching chicken eggs will help you.