Day 18 is an important milestone in the incubation process, as the embryos are fully formed and preparing to hatch.
At this stage, the eggs should be kept in the incubator and not disturbed, to prevent any damage to the developing embryos.
The temperature and humidity levels should be carefully monitored, as any fluctuations can affect the hatch rate.
The eggs should be positioned with the large end facing upward, to allow the embryos to position themselves for hatching.
The embryos will start to internally pip, which is the process of breaking through the inner membrane of the eggshell using their egg tooth.
At this stage, it is important to maintain high humidity levels, to prevent the membranes from drying out and sticking to the chick.
The embryos may start to chirp and move around, indicating that they are getting ready to hatch.
It is important to resist the urge to help the chicks hatch, as they need to do it on their own to strengthen their muscles and respiratory system.
The hatching process can take up to 24 hours, and it is important to monitor the incubator closely during this time.
Once the chicks have hatched, they should be left in the incubator until they are fully dry and fluffy, before being moved to a brooder.

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