Lockdown is a critical part of the incubation process for chicken eggs. It prepares the eggs for hatching and helps ensure healthy chicks. But when exactly should you lock down the incubator? Getting the timing right is key.
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 creates ideal conditions for the chick to pip through the egg shell. It keeps the egg membranes from drying out so the chick can successfully hatch.
When to Start Lockdown
For most standard-sized chicken eggs, lockdown should happen on day 18 of incubation. 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 occur 3 days before the expected hatch date This gives the chick embryo time to get positioned for hatching
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 gets close to hatch time, you will want to make sure that there is no open water that newly hatched chicks could accidentally stumble into.
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.
If your incubator doesn’t have any open water sources, then you can skip this step! You still may want to evaluate the interior of your incubator just to make sure there is nothing else that could cause harm to young hatchlings (e.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?
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. 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.