Checking off my pre incubation questions.

[kesrchicky16]

So I no longer have my Alpha Roo that I was looking forward to getting chicks from in the spring. I also have 2 hens biting me because of broodyness. So I bit the bullet and bought an incubator (farm inovations 4250) and am setting up for giving the hens each 10 eggs and incubating 10 with each hen. I have a small secondary incubator to lockdown the 1st set and will let the 2nd set lock down in the big incubator since I will give the eggs to the chickens a couple days apart. The second hen has proven herself a good mama and set 2 days after her first hatch to get the other chick out. So I know she will keep on her own eggs.

Now on to my questions.
1: If I'm understanding the eggs go in the turner small end down and then leave them alone until lock down?

2: instructions say 55% you all say 35% because higher will drown the babies in shell. What should I aim for? I have a seperate calibrated thermometer but no hygrometer. I do have a wet bulb dry bulb chart though. Not sure how to use that yet.

3. Anything else I'm missing?

I have small hopes. Hoping for 8-12 chicks out of 40 total eggs (20 with hens 20 in the bator) it is cold here and getting colder so I want to encourage the hens by giving them chicks if their clutch completely fails. Crossing my finger for 4 rose comb pullets.

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, eggs go in the turner fat end up Leave them in that position until lockdown.

Humidity varies by climate, location, elevation, and even your incubator. Personally I would start at the low end, around 30% or so, see how that does for you, and adjust from there. You could weigh your eggs if you want to accurately track moisture loss.

If you're interested, you could read this article, which is a guide to incubation for beginners: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

 

[kesrchicky16]

Yes, eggs go in the turner fat end down Leave them in that position until lockdown.

Humidity varies by climate, location, elevation, and even your incubator. Personally I would start at the low end, around 30% or so, see how that does for you, and adjust from there. You could weigh your eggs if you want to accurately track moisture loss.

If you're interested, you could read this article, which is a guide to incubation for beginners: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

Fat end? I thought it was pointy end down.

 

[Pyxis]

Oh heck, I meant fat end UP, not down. Thanks for catching that typo, I'll fix it