Any Last Minute Tips???

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
http://www.emotty.com/images/emoticons/479.png

Your talking about thermal mass.
http://cmfarm.us/thermalmass.html


A heat sink is something made to dissipate extra heat.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:...ge.com/cayman/images/heatsink-cm-sock-a-a.jpg

Yep, I got my terminology mixed up, but I'm still hopefull that the jars will help stabalize temps.

 

[brendapa]

Stay calm...charge the battery in your camera. Make sure there is room on the disk. Have a clean, disinfected spray bottle ready. Clean sponges if you need to boost the humidty.
It helps to microwave the water, adding hot to the incubator instead of cold.

Get plenty of chocolate ready. and maybe vodka....

Work on the brooder with the heat source.

Good Luck!

 

[smchickfarm]

Thanks!!!!! Staying calm? I will try! Ha , turned on the incubator last night. My temp is holding steady between 99.5 and 100. Humidity is holding between 65 and 70. Is that ok?????????? Anyone??????????


Not really a Vodka person.....................might get a bottle of rum!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

The humidity seems too high to me. That is fine for lockdown but not during incubation. Try to aim for 35-55. The egg needs to lose enough of moisture that at hatch time the chicks don't pip and drown inside the shell.

Have fun with this, read alot and ask questions!

 

[smchickfarm]

I am glad I have it running now so I can make adjustments....

Ok...How do I lower the humidity???????? Any suggestions?????? HELP!!!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

It is still early days so don't worry. It is the average that matters. You aren't on lockdown right? If you aren't then leave the plug out until you get to the right levels. I leave the plugs out throughout the whole incubation anyway and only put it in to keep the humidity up and stable during the hatch.

 

[smchickfarm]

No, I have not even put eggs in yet. I am putting them in Sat. I wanted the bator to run so I could get things correct. It is a homemade (well made) still air incubator. I took the plugs out this morning before I left for work. Hopefully that will help the humidity.

Thanks for all your help!

Love this site, lots of helpful people and information

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Oh... well you can go and take some water out. Either dump it out or use a washcloth and soak some up. Also, make sure you have several hygrometers and thermometers.

They tend to be inaccurate and it is best to compare them to get the average or else you can be really off. I have at least 3 that I check everything with.

However (and this is me) I don't monitor the humidity during the first 18 much at all. I dry incubate so I use very little or no water and my humidity ranges about 20-25 tops. I find this works for me even in my dry climate.

I have Orpingtons from BamaChicken hatching right now and out of 13 eggs so far I have 9 out, 1 zipped and 1 super pipped.

The one that is zipping now--zipped at the wrong end and if I hadn't dry incubated I am almost positive it would have drowned when it internally pipped.

If you ever do decide to dry incubate I suggest you use eggs that are not "special" and see how it works for you. Lockdown I aim for 60-70

 

[smchickfarm]

Great, thank you!!!! you have been so helpful!!! Can't wait to put the eggs in on Sat.....then it is sit and be patient!

I will keep posting how things are going...............I am sure I will have more questions

 

[Kittymomma]

I was told to keep temps at 101.5 at egg height. A little low is better then high though. What are you using to take temp and humidity readings? The thermometer that came with the lg that I'm borrowing was off by 3 degrees

They can slip around on that paper backing and not give you a good reading. I like the hygrometer, but it did need to be calibrated. I ended up getting a digital thermometer/hygrometer at wally world. It has a cord with probe on it so it's easy to put on top of the eggs. Just in case you don't know about calibration the hygrometer I'm pasting the directions below. I'm candling tonight

1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup water--mix in small glass bowl or coffee cup

Place bowl of salt/water mix and hygrometer (beside bowl, not in) in a large ziploc bag and seal.
Leave for 12 hours and read hygrometer.
Hygrometer should (but won't) read 75
If your hygrometer is adjustable then adjust it to 75. If not just make a note of how far it's off and add/subtract that number when you use it.

Mine said 71 so I add 4 to whatever it says when I'm using it in the bator.