I was hoping to make a thread where people can go to for information on incubators. I know you could just go to learning center, but lots of people like being told on the thread part of BYC. Please share how you personally incubate eggs, and perhaps share some mistakes too.
My knowledge:
If your eggs have been shipped, place them, pointy end down, in an egg carton for 24 hours, to let the yolk and air bubble settle.
About 24 hours before putting the eggs in the incubator, get it up to temperature and humidity. You will want it to be about 99.5 degrees F. And 45-50% humidity.
Keep in mind that you want to make sure you do not have TOO MUCH humidity on days 1-18, and you do not want to have TOO LITTLE on days 19-23.
Place the eggs in the incubator. The eggs should have the large end a little higher than the small end.
If you are using a turner, place the eggs in the turner pointy end down.
If you are turning the eggs by hand, you should turn them at least 3 times a day. You should stagger the turning, so your eggs don't sit in the same side two nights in a row. To help remember this, draw an "X" on one side of the egg, and an "O" on the other side of the egg.
E.g.: Night 1: side X.
Night 2: side O. And so on.
You can candle your eggs to monitor the growth of the embryo, but this is not necessary. You should be able to see blood veins by day 7.
Normal candling days are days 7, 14, and 18.
Lock Down:
Lock down is on day 18. You will want to:
#1: take out the egg turner.
#2: decrease the temperature by ONE degree. (98.5 degrees F.)
#3: increase humidity to 65-70%.
You do not need to turn the eggs at this stage if you are turning the eggs by hand. At this stage the chicks will most likely start to hatch. Hatches will be staggered, some by a few days.
When the chick makes a hole in the egg, it is called "pipping". After the chick has "pipped", it may take a break for up to 24 hours. Do not try to help the chick out unless absolutely necessary. Some people say it kills the chicks to help them out, but if they are stuck, they will die anyway.
The chicks can survive for up to 72 hours on the egg they absorb before hatching. When the chick hatches, give it time to dry off before moving it to your brooder.
My knowledge:
If your eggs have been shipped, place them, pointy end down, in an egg carton for 24 hours, to let the yolk and air bubble settle.
About 24 hours before putting the eggs in the incubator, get it up to temperature and humidity. You will want it to be about 99.5 degrees F. And 45-50% humidity.
Keep in mind that you want to make sure you do not have TOO MUCH humidity on days 1-18, and you do not want to have TOO LITTLE on days 19-23.
Place the eggs in the incubator. The eggs should have the large end a little higher than the small end.
If you are using a turner, place the eggs in the turner pointy end down.
If you are turning the eggs by hand, you should turn them at least 3 times a day. You should stagger the turning, so your eggs don't sit in the same side two nights in a row. To help remember this, draw an "X" on one side of the egg, and an "O" on the other side of the egg.
E.g.: Night 1: side X.
Night 2: side O. And so on.
You can candle your eggs to monitor the growth of the embryo, but this is not necessary. You should be able to see blood veins by day 7.
Normal candling days are days 7, 14, and 18.
Lock Down:
Lock down is on day 18. You will want to:
#1: take out the egg turner.
#2: decrease the temperature by ONE degree. (98.5 degrees F.)
#3: increase humidity to 65-70%.
You do not need to turn the eggs at this stage if you are turning the eggs by hand. At this stage the chicks will most likely start to hatch. Hatches will be staggered, some by a few days.
When the chick makes a hole in the egg, it is called "pipping". After the chick has "pipped", it may take a break for up to 24 hours. Do not try to help the chick out unless absolutely necessary. Some people say it kills the chicks to help them out, but if they are stuck, they will die anyway.
The chicks can survive for up to 72 hours on the egg they absorb before hatching. When the chick hatches, give it time to dry off before moving it to your brooder.
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