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Silkie 1st time incubator

post #1 of 12
7/30/12 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 

Hi every one !

 I recently purchased silkie chicks and got bit by the the chicken bug and now getting ready to incubate eggs!!!! Yeahh!!!!!

Wel after reading about incubators and hatching here on BYC I purchased hova-bator 1588 with auto turner. I also purchased a seperate thermometer and digital hydrometer that displays temp also and humidity as wel as dew point. I didnt skimp on hom much I spent either as the thermometer was 14.95 and the digital gauges were 41.99.

 My question is this I've had the incubator running since last thursday , so I could get it up and running before the eggs came, and Ive been getting 2 different readings for the humidity the incubator has been steady at around 46 -55% however my digital gauge reads 61% . I followed the hova -bator instructions and filled the # 1 spot with water and left #2 dry anyone know what I how I should gauge the humidity with so different readings?

I have found BYC the best for getting my chicken fix and love how everyone here has the chicken bug! So please advise me on my humidity issue or not?

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post #2 of 12
7/30/12 at 8:24pm

I would trust the digital gauge. 

If your bator has a fan, put the gauge near the wall. If you have a "still air" model, put the gauge in the middle.

I do not have to add water to my bator the first 18 days, because the humidity stays around 30% without adding water.

To lower humdity, take out the red plugs on top of the bator, and put the plugs in to increase humidity.

SQ Rose comb RIRs, SQ Silver Penciled rocks, SQ white/bbs bearded silkies , hatchery Reds, Buff Orps, coturnix quail and 2 cats.  Member of American Silkie Bantam Club
 

Swap Page   http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=97667-swap-page

 

My website is now up and running.
http://RCPoultry.webs.com

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SQ Rose comb RIRs, SQ Silver Penciled rocks, SQ white/bbs bearded silkies , hatchery Reds, Buff Orps, coturnix quail and 2 cats.  Member of American Silkie Bantam Club
 

Swap Page   http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=97667-swap-page

 

My website is now up and running.
http://RCPoultry.webs.com

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post #3 of 12
7/30/12 at 8:40pm
Thread Starter 

It does seem to have a fan that is mounted up top and Ive got the humidity probe down in 1 of the egg turner baskets,so I guess from what your saying then is my humidity is too high!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=77

https://www.gqfmfg.com/pdf/1588%20Genesis%20TUV%20LCD.pdf

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post #4 of 12
7/30/12 at 10:52pm

I wouldn't have humidity up that high until they are ready to hatch.  SEriously, read the posts about "dry hatching."  I think keep humidity around 25-30% until day 18....then up it to 65-75%....I think was the formula.  For my first hatch, I followed the hovabator instructions, only 2 of my 12 eggs hatched (2 more had embryos in there).  My last hatch, 4 out of 11 hatched (2 more eggs had embryos), following the backyardchickens method for "dry" hatching.  I would watch the digital thermometer.  I can't tell you how fun it is and you'll take to chicken math like chicks on yolk.  clap.gif

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post #5 of 12
7/30/12 at 10:54pm

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubation-cheat-sheet   This is what I have pegged to my favorites, to access.  Great info.

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post #6 of 12
7/30/12 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 

Wow thats some great info thank  you I will be doing the dry method!

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post #7 of 12
7/31/12 at 8:00am
Thread Starter 

I took chickenteacher2's advise and the humidty is reading the same this morning, no water and I'm at 24%.Just took the water out! Also realized that the probe for the digital gauge I placed down at egg level and the incubator's gauge reads at top so there was 13% difference in humidity between the 2 gauges!

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post #8 of 12
7/31/12 at 9:35am

Egg level is best.  You get your eggs today, right?    The babies are so dang cute.....   people who don't have chickens just don't understand.  My favorite part my last hatch was being able to "candle" them (just hold an LED flashlight to them in a dark room) and look up pictures on candling here.  It's pretty awesome to see them develop.  And when it gets time to come out, like day 20 or so, you can usually hear them peeping in their shells.  love.gif And all, but 2 of my hatches, happened very early in the morning.  Follow the advice from the eggsperts on this site and you'll do just fine. 

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post #9 of 12
7/31/12 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 

Yes I got my eggs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1st ones  Im so excited  i cant even spell!!! Took them home and weighed them all I bought 16 but they gave 20 wohoo!!!!! incubator is holding steady at 26% and 99.7 f . I took chickenteachers advise last night and removed the water from my incubator and am now getting identicle readins on my humidity gauge and temperature gauges!!! So all looks good cant wait Im gonna place them in incubator tonight when  my daughter comes home from camp!!!!!They look so cozy in the package!!!

 700

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post #10 of 12
8/7/12 at 12:19pm

How's it going?  It seems like forever, 3 weeks when you are waiting, candling, waiting, watching.....but like day 20 or so, SO FUN!

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