California - Northern

[zooweemama]

Question about incubating. I am running the bator empty right now (has water but no eggs). it all is in working order BUT I am still fiddle farting with the temps to get it between 99-100. At night it dips down to 98- is this a problem? There is going to be natural fluctations no matter what room I put the bator in. I have my therm set to 68 (we had it off and the house would get 62-65 degrees but I figured this would not be good for the bator so plan on making sure my house temp doesn't get too below 68). But during the day my house can warm up between 70-76 (heater is off) and I am not turning the a/c on to maintain a constant 68 lol.

So questions:

1. How much fluctation is normal and ok?

2. Is it normal to fiddle with the therm occasionally to adjust for the rising day temps/cool night temps?

3. When does a temp become dangerously too low to negatively impact a hatch? For a length of time?

4. When do you add the eggs? When the bator is preheated OR add the eggs then turn bator on?

5. When you first put the eggs in- do you leave them alone untouched for how long before they are 'set'?

6. Candling...I have read SO many different answers with when to candle. At what intervals are best? Some day start at 7 and some say 10...

7. Candling & Temps: When I need to candle I am opening and closing the bator- this is def going to cause the temp to dip. Getting in the bator once a day or every other day or every few days - which is ok?

8. My current humidity is 40%. Is this too high to set eggs? Should I leave it dry until after they are set? Leave it dry until lockdown?

My eggs have been sitting on my counter, air cell up the entire time. Will I need to prep the eggs in any way before popping them in? These are my eggs not shipped, and none were cooled in the fridge.

Thanks so much guys!

 

[zooweemama]

edited above to make it easier. lol

 

[ronott1]

Question about incubating. I am running the bator empty right now (has water but no eggs). it all is in working order BUT I am still fiddle farting with the temps to get it between 99-100. At night it dips down to 98- is this a problem? There is going to be natural fluctations no matter what room I put the bator in. I have my therm set to 68 (we had it off and the house would get 62-65 degrees but I figured this would not be good for the bator so plan on making sure my house temp doesn't get too below 68). But during the day my house can warm up between 70-76 (heater is off) and I am not turning the a/c on to maintain a constant 68 lol.

So questions:

1. How much fluctation is normal and ok?

2. Is it normal to fiddle with the therm occasionally to adjust for the rising day temps/cool night temps?

3. When does a temp because dangerously too low to negatively impact a hatch? For a length of time?

4. When do you add the eggs? When the bator is preheated OR add the eggs then turn bator on?

My eggs have been sitting on my counter, air cell up the entire time. Will I need to prep the eggs in any way before popping them in? These are my eggs not shipped, and none were cooled in the fridge.

Thanks so much guys!

I keep a portable heater in the walk in closet that I use for hatching. There is less of a problem in the spring since it does not get that cold at night now.

I would leave the settings where you have them and see how it works for this hatch and then adjust later.

Is the auto turner on? That usually raises the temp a bit.

If you are hand turning the eggs, you need to put an X on one side and an O on the other to help keep the turning straight. If you have special ones that you want to hatch separately you can mark them with things like BB for Black Betty or etc.

Get those eggs incubating!

 

[zooweemama]

I keep a portable heater in the walk in closet that I use for hatching. There is less of a problem in the spring since it does not get that cold at night now.

I would leave the settings where you have them and see how it works for this hatch and then adjust later.

Is the auto turner on? That usually raises the temp a bit.

If you are hand turning the eggs, you need to put an X on one side and an O on the other to help keep the turning straight. If you have special ones that you want to hatch separately you can mark them with things like BB for Black Betty or etc.

Get those eggs incubating!

I turned the turner off after we established it worked. I will turn it back on and see if it helps.

Do I set the eggs in a temp ready bator? Like when you bake bread- you put the dough in when the oven is preheated. Or do I cool the bator first, add the eggs THEN turn the bator on and let it come up?

 

[zooweemama]

I keep a portable heater in the walk in closet that I use for hatching. There is less of a problem in the spring since it does not get that cold at night now.

I would leave the settings where you have them and see how it works for this hatch and then adjust later.

Is the auto turner on? That usually raises the temp a bit.

If you are hand turning the eggs, you need to put an X on one side and an O on the other to help keep the turning straight. If you have special ones that you want to hatch separately you can mark them with things like BB for Black Betty or etc.

Get those eggs incubating!

Also I added a couple more questions to my question post- I just don't want to mess the start of the hatch up! lol But I am putting in 5 goose eggs and 1 dozen duck eggs. I figure that's good enough to get me 2 live hatchlings??? I hope lol!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: As long as the eggs are at room temp, you put them into the pre heated incubator. It takes time for the temp to stabilize. Do not adjust anything for 24 hours after setting the eggs. Do watch to make sure it does not go crazy high.

If it is a still air, do not put an egg in the spot next to the motor.

 

[zooweemama]

As long as the eggs are at room temp, you put them into the pre heated incubator. It takes time for the temp to stabilize. Do not adjust anything for 24 hours after setting the eggs. Do watch to make sure it does not go crazy high.

If it is a still air, do not put an egg in the spot next to the motor.

It is the Hovabator. And is still air. When I sit the eggs in- should I stagger them or sit them directly next to each other? I feel like a boob- sorry for all the lame questions.

Also- when it is time for hatching/lockdown I know you remove the turner. Lay them on their side...I see some people put them air cell up in an egg carton...which is preferred?

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Shipped eggs do better set big end up for incubation. All eggs do better on their side for hatch. I cut down an egg carton and set them on their side at an angle. I put the big end up slightly with the largest part of the air cell up. They usually pip right at the top if I get the position correct.

There have been studies that show hatching on the side increases hatch rates.

I would put them in the center part of the incubator. Temps should be more stable there. Still air incubators move heat via convection layers, so the hot air rises and the cold air drops, moving the temps around. There can be warm and hot spots in the incubator so you have to check that too. Some use multiple thermometers to check that.

Like Deb said, Don't worry about it too much!

Have fun with it!

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote: We were posting at the same time! I see your picture of all the room you have with yours, mine are packed in there like sardines! I'll need to move them out as soon as they fluff because I don't know how they're going to move around in there.

One last thing and then I promise I will go to sleep. I hatched 2 Marans eggs (one Black CM and the other Blue CM) that were shipped to me. Both of the babies have short outer toes. I have never seen that before. Their toes are actually half the length of the middle toe. Really odd. I don't raise Marans, is this common in the breed? Anyone know about Marans toes?

Pictures please! I'm new at getting into Marans so don't know about the shorter outer toe, I know it should have feathers on it outside of the leg and down the toe but don't know about them being shorter. Hope someone answers since I have some eggs in lockdown from my Blue CM and if they come out with short toes I want to know if it's OK!

Quote: Can't wait to see them! So many chicks..........I love spring!

Five of the Heritage RIRs have hatched!

More eggs have pips too

They are so pretty and beefy from hatch. I will get pictures tonight.

Question about incubating. I am running the bator empty right now (has water but no eggs). it all is in working order BUT I am still fiddle farting with the temps to get it between 99-100. At night it dips down to 98- is this a problem? There is going to be natural fluctations no matter what room I put the bator in. I have my therm set to 68 (we had it off and the house would get 62-65 degrees but I figured this would not be good for the bator so plan on making sure my house temp doesn't get too below 68). But during the day my house can warm up between 70-76 (heater is off) and I am not turning the a/c on to maintain a constant 68 lol.

So questions:

1. How much fluctation is normal and ok?

2. Is it normal to fiddle with the therm occasionally to adjust for the rising day temps/cool night temps?

3. When does a temp become dangerously too low to negatively impact a hatch? For a length of time?

4. When do you add the eggs? When the bator is preheated OR add the eggs then turn bator on?

5. When you first put the eggs in- do you leave them alone untouched for how long before they are 'set'?

6. Candling...I have read SO many different answers with when to candle. At what intervals are best? Some day start at 7 and some say 10...

7. Candling & Temps: When I need to candle I am opening and closing the bator- this is def going to cause the temp to dip. Getting in the bator once a day or every other day or every few days - which is ok?

8. My current humidity is 40%. Is this too high to set eggs? Should I leave it dry until after they are set? Leave it dry until lockdown?

My eggs have been sitting on my counter, air cell up the entire time. Will I need to prep the eggs in any way before popping them in? These are my eggs not shipped, and none were cooled in the fridge.

Thanks so much guys!

You're using the LG right? They take a LOT of fidgeting with....at least mine did (that's why I sold it after one use). And they're very sensitive to change temp. Someone recommended putting something on the little thing to change the temp to make a dial out of it so you can easier turn it. Seemed like a barely moved it and it would change 5 degrees!

Get the incubator stable for 24 hours, then add the eggs. Don't fool with the temp for 24 hours, give it time to recover from being opened. 40% is OK but it will take a lot of work to keep the LG at 40% so maybe shoot for a lower humidity for the next 18 days. I put a sponge in there and used a tube with a syringe and just squirt water onto the sponges as needed. That was the only way I could get any kind of control on the humidity. In lockdown plan on not going anywhere for about 4-5 days as keeping the humidity up on the LG is a full time job! Then when the chicks start to hatch, the temp jumps way up.....aargh, what a rollercoaster ride I had hatching in the LG. Not trying to scare you, just letting you know that the LG takes a little more attention so don't get frustrated. Good luck and have fun!

 

[zooweemama]

We were posting at the same time! I see your picture of all the room you have with yours, mine are packed in there like sardines! I'll need to move them out as soon as they fluff because I don't know how they're going to move around in there.
Pictures please! I'm new at getting into Marans so don't know about the shorter outer toe, I know it should have feathers on it outside of the leg and down the toe but don't know about them being shorter. Hope someone answers since I have some eggs in lockdown from my Blue CM and if they come out with short toes I want to know if it's OK!
Can't wait to see them! So many chicks..........I love spring!

You're using the LG right? They take a LOT of fidgeting with....at least mine did (that's why I sold it after one use). And they're very sensitive to change temp. Someone recommended putting something on the little thing to change the temp to make a dial out of it so you can easier turn it. Seemed like a barely moved it and it would change 5 degrees!

Get the incubator stable for 24 hours, then add the eggs. Don't fool with the temp for 24 hours, give it time to recover from being opened. 40% is OK but it will take a lot of work to keep the LG at 40% so maybe shoot for a lower humidity for the next 18 days. I put a sponge in there and used a tube with a syringe and just squirt water onto the sponges as needed. That was the only way I could get any kind of control on the humidity. In lockdown plan on not going anywhere for about 4-5 days as keeping the humidity up on the LG is a full time job! Then when the chicks start to hatch, the temp jumps way up.....aargh, what a rollercoaster ride I had hatching in the LG. Not trying to scare you, just letting you know that the LG takes a little more attention so don't get frustrated. Good luck and have fun!

I have a Hovabator but I find I am still fiddling with the temp a wee bit. It bounced between 97-99 (97 at night). I am turning the turner here shortly.