Quote:
Originally Posted by
kuntrygirl 
Thanks. I appreciate that. It will give me a good idea on how to set it up.

Okay, in the first picture it shows the sponge in the back water trough. I cut the sponge the same height as the trough so the tray don't sit on the wet sponges and maybe get the eggs to wet. I only fill the back trough with the sponges with water for incubation. About every third day, I have to lift tray out and add water. I don't put any water in front trough unless the humidity keeps dropping below 40%.

In the next photo is how I do my eggs and hygrometer. In the back row there are 6 large fowl rhode island red eggs and at the far right I put balled up paper towel so they don't jiggle around when I turn the incubator back and forth.
third row has 6 eggs with paper towel for same reason
second and front row has 5 eggs in each row with paper towels for same reason.
Depending on size of your eggs as to how many you can get in there. I have 13 rhode island red LF, 3 english orpington and 6 barred plymouth rock eggs in there total being 22 large fowl eggs. The orp and barred rocks are pullet eggs so not quite a large as they will be later. These will just sit like this without the lid on because the rhode island red eggs were shipped to me this morning so they have to sit and settle for a while. I will put lid on probably about 11 P.M. and make sure the temp is okay before going to bed. I do nothing else except lift tray to add water until day 18 then I open, candle and move the good ones into my Hova Bator for hatching.
I think I've told you everything that I can tell you now on how I do mine and I've been having really good hatches doing it this way. Sometimes on shipped eggs the rate isn't as high but I'm not complaining. I usually have 100% on my own eggs.
I try to keep my humidity between 40 and 50% and my temp is usually at 99. Once in a while it will go up to 100 when I have it in the back position when rocking the bator. My glass thermometer in the top of the Brinsea usually is at or very close to 101 but I really don't pay any attention to that one. I go totally by the hygrometer.
I really do hope that this helps you and I wish you the best of luck with your hatch/hatches. lol
Jim

Edited by immyjay54 - 5/1/12 at 7:46am