Lockdown when age of eggs is unknown

[dawn secord]

I am using a NR 360 for the first time. I have eggs that were started under a hen (from a friend) and we are not sure the exact incubation start date. Most are about the same date - she estimated 7 to 9 days. A few may be older or younger than that. I have 14 eggs. Estimating lay date is 10/1. It is currently 10/15. Do I start lockdown 3 days a head for all which would be 10/17ish (they are silkie chicks and my silkie chicks have almost always pipped at day 19). I am candling eggs tonight. If the eggs, once candled, do not appear to be hatching within a few days of each other, is it okay to open the incubator to hand turn, during lockdown? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[mcdze]

id leave automatic turning on, i usually do anyway .. opening the bator isnt a good idea around hatch time, especially tooling around for a long time turning/candling .. leave em be .. you can get away with cracking the lid on a larger bator to sneak your hand in to grab somebody heheh, but thats about it .. like that ..

 

[SunHwaKwon]

You can get away with not turning at all after about the first two weeks.

ETA your biggest hurdle will be optimizing your humidity so that the ready chicks can hatch easily but the not ready chicks don't retain too much moisture and drown at hatch time.

 

[dawn secord]

id leave automatic turning on, i usually do anyway .. opening the bator isnt a good idea around hatch time, especially tooling around for a long time turning/candling .. leave em be .. you can get away with cracking the lid on a larger bator to sneak your hand in to grab somebody heheh, but thats about it .. like that ..

Thank you!

You can get away with not turning at all after about the first two weeks.

ETA your biggest hurdle will be optimizing your humidity so that the ready chicks can hatch easily but the not ready chicks don't retain too much moisture and drown at hatch time.

 

[dawn secord]

Thank you!

I agree on the humidity....a delicate balance that could go either way as you suggested.