Quote:
Originally Posted by
clfromok 
Hello, you guys seem like the peeps to ask...
I will be attempting my first hatch using a still air incubator. EE pullet eggs.
Wanted to set today but can't find a hygrometer(humidity gauge) to put in. So I'm going crazy calling all over the place for one!
I shouldn't get my hopes up because so many things can go wrong and as much as I've read up, I don't feel confident that I know what I'm doing.
My questions may sound stupid but as I said I'm a newby.
First I have my eggs stored small end down in carton- do I need to turn them while storing, before placing in bator?
also
I don't have an egg turner or holding cups in bator so do I just lay them on the side and roll over when time to turn(3x a day)?
I am by no means an expert, but I'll try to help
When I got my bator (a still air LG), I was in the same boat as you. I had a REALLY hard time finding a hygrometer. So, I didn't use one, and honestly, I still don't use one. I measure the progress of the eggs by the air cells. I just keep the wells filled in the bottom and up the humidity at lockdiwn. I've had great hatches!
I don't have a fancy egg turned either, so I would just lay them on their sides and turn them 3x's a day. This time, I'm using a paper egg carton to hold my eggs. I cut a hole in the bottom of each cup to allow for air flow. It sure has made turning much easier, without fear of dropping them (I always seem to drop at least one each time, not this time though!).
Yes, you should be turning your eggs at least 3x's a day while storing them so the chicks don't stick to the shell. You can do it by hand, or place them in a carton and put a thick book under one end. Simply move the book from one end to the other to tilt the eggs in opposite directions each time. Storing them small end down is correct, so you're doing good there. Make sure you store them in a cool (about 50-60°), humid (think basement) place.
One little bit of advice though, since you said you're hatching pullet eggs. Don't be too surprised if you don't get great hatch rates. I'm incubating pullet eggs this time as well, and when I candled I found that quite a few of them weren't even fertile.
Good luck with your first go, you must be very excited! Keep with our thread and let us know how everything is going. Good luck
Nikki
