8 eggs in the incubator

What kind of incubator are you using? You need the temp to be 99.5 degrees for a circulated air model (that has a built in fan), 101.5-102 degrees for a still air model (without a fan). I always put water in first, before I even preheat the incubator, because it effects the thermal mass and can really cool down the incubator's internal temp for a period of time before it becomes stable again... so when you add it, try to add warm 90-95 degree water to the trough/troughs so that it takes less time for the incubator and eggs to heat back up after you put the top back on. Not too hot tho, it it will raise the temp in the incubator, then you will be messing with the temp on and off until it equalizes.

Good luck, hope you hatch the little Hens you need 

ETA:

Another good tip is to add a tiny drop of food coloring to the water, so the level is easier to moitor as it evapotates and also when you are adding more to the troughs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellpel 

102.5f? Instructions on incubator say 99.5 even with out fan . Should I put mine higher ?

I typoed, it's actually best to set the temp to 101.5-102 degrees on top of the eggs, so you are aiming for 99.5-100 degrees at the center of the egg. 102.5 I stated in my original reply is a little high, (sorry sorry sorry, I really despise still air incubation and never use it because there's too much variation in temps all around  inside the incubator!)

Still air incubation temp is typically just measured with the included thermometer laying on top of the eggs, and since the egg yolks are in the middle of the egg, the temp there is going to be at least a couple degrees cooler, since warm air rises.

The incubator instructions included with still air incubators that tell you to set your temp at 99.5 degrees are instructions that were written under the assumption that people will buy the fan kit separately and install it before setting eggs. (I really wish they'd correct that, it would save a lot of keets and a lot of heart ache for people that use them and are unaware of the temp requirements being so different and end up with such poor hatches).

Do a little research online, I promise you that the still air incubation temps need to be higher than cirulated air temps. Still air incubation hatches generally take a couple days longer to hatch, have much lower hatch success rates, as well as more keets with leg and genetic issues if set to 99.5 degrees 

ETA...

Here's a good link, that explains still air vs circulated air: http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/poultry_temp.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonphelps 

Little giant, no fan. I upped the temp a little and will wait to see where it stabilizes. Ordered a hygrometer today on fleabay. lets hope they ship fast.

 

thanks for the help.

LOL @ fleabay!

I ended up adding cheapo PC fans to my 2 LGs so I that could run them at 99.5 degrees. I mounted them right where the more expensive LG fan kit goes, (1 in each LG), mounted upside down facing up, with spacers in between the fan and the incubator top for good air circulation), and I used old cordless phone power supplies that I already had to run the fan, just spliced the wires together). It helped circulate the air, but the hatches still weren't that great... the styrofoam is just too thin on those dang LGs, and its hard to keep my house temps steady, with no major temp fluctuations espcially over night.

Try to move/rotate your eggs around to different areas of the incubator at least weekly, if you can. That helps give them all more even heating through the entire incubation.

Good luck, and you are so welcome 

ETA...

PS, I was able to get pretty decent digital Hygrometer/Thermometers at Walmart and RadioShack that were both small enough to fit inside the incubators

I won an auction on Ebay for 16 coral blue guinea eggs yesterday so I will be setting eggs soon. I'm so glad you started this thread. Maybe we can be hatch buddies. I plan on setting duck and chicken eggs along with the the guinea eggs and use another bator as a hatcher. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I set 12 of my own eggs, will get 10 duck eggs from a friend, purchased some SQ BLRW eggs and have the rather pricey guinea eggs coming too. I don't want to mess the hatch up on the guinea eggs so any advice is welcome

Quote:

Originally Posted by r4eboxer 

I won an auction on Ebay for 16 coral blue guinea eggs yesterday so I will be setting eggs soon. I'm so glad you started this thread. Maybe we can be hatch buddies. I plan on setting duck and chicken eggs along with the the guinea eggs and use another bator as a hatcher. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I set 12 of my own eggs, will get 10 duck eggs from a friend, purchased some SQ BLRW eggs and have the rather pricey guinea eggs coming too. I don't want to mess the hatch up on the guinea eggs so any advice is welcome

I use a separate hatcher too, (cuz hatches are messy and poopy!). I keep adding fresh eggs into the incubators every time I pull a batch out that needs to go into the hatcher. Works great and it saves a lot of wear and tear in the incubator. I try to sanitize it every 30 days or so tho, just so there's no bacteria build up.

I'd be sure to let your shipped eggs rest at room temp for 24 hours before you set them, this gives them time to untangle and stabilize from all the bouncing around they went thru while being shipped before they start incubating. Guinea eggs like 45-50% Humidity during incubation (day 1 - day 24), and mine always seem to do really well with as close to 75% humidity as I can get for lock down. My eggs typically hatch on day 26/27.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info on humidity, but now I'm not sure how to go about the incubation on my duck and chicken eggs. I think I may need to hatch the guineas separate from the chickens and ducks. My chickens need 30 % humidity. It seems that guinea eggs have the same humidity as goose eggs do. I am planning on turning my guinea eggs by hand 3 X a day. I'm going to have to read up on duck eggs though. Maybe I can hatch the ducks and guineas together? Ducks are 28 days and guineas 28 days so maybe that is the best plan?