December hatch along

[BlueBaby]

It's under the heater element, I had it turned around at first so it was reading low but it only went up a few degrees when I turned it around properly. I believe I calibrated it correctly, ice in cold water and it read 32 degrees. I'm not hugely worried if they hatch a little early, Bieles aren't excessively fragile as chicks. And like I said, worst case I try again in a week if none are developing.

The thermometer should be at the same height of the top of your egg's.

 

[mandelyn]

How many of you guys are using distilled water in the incubators? That's another thing I changed, from filtered tap water to distilled. The humidity pump instructions preferred it, knowing my tap water like I do has me inclined to agree, for the sake of the pump having a chance to last awhile. So far, no lines on the pan for the cabinet incubator, versus the calcium/? crust on the edges of the trays in my older box units.

 

[Matieus27]

How many of you guys are using distilled water in the incubators? That's another thing I changed, from filtered tap water to distilled. The humidity pump instructions preferred it, knowing my tap water like I do has me inclined to agree, for the sake of the pump having a chance to last awhile. So far, no lines on the pan for the cabinet incubator, versus the calcium/? crust on the edges of the trays in my older box units.

I’ve always just used tap water maybe I should try distilled next time

 

[adtillma1]

Just set 3 Bielefelder eggs today, my first hatch Was hoping for more but the rain has made all my chickens act funky.

Temp of the incubator was reading 99.5 while the thermometer was reading 95. Turned it up and now the incubator is reading 100.7 and the thermometer is reading 99 so Worst case I toss them in a week and try again.

Good luck! We set 21 Bielefelders on Dec 2nd and are crossing our fingers!

 

[Compost King]

I used Distilled water not because its better but because I bought it as emergency drinking water before I found out how bad distilled was is to drink. So its stocked up with no real use. When it runs out I might just keep buying it for the incubator.

 

[TabbiMae]

The thermometer should be at the same height of the top of your egg's.

Not possible with our thermometer without adding extra items into the incubator which we don't want to do for sanitization purposes.

I rechecked the thermometer and now it's reading about 4 degrees higher Good news is we now have two hens laying so hopefully we'll have more eggs next time!

 

[Compost King]

21 days away from January, the January Hatch a Long could be popping up soon.

 

[TabbiMae]

About to just throw the whole incubator away...

Got a digital thermometer/hydrometer. Incubator said 103.6 48%, glass thermometer said 98, digital said 99 25%. Added water and digital is saying it's 99 and 40%.

 

[Matieus27]

About to just throw the whole incubator away...

Got a digital thermometer/hydrometer. Incubator said 103.6 48%, glass thermometer said 98, digital said 99 25%. Added water and digital is saying it's 99 and 40%.

What kind of incubator is it?

 

[CacklingRanch]

Remember the incubator that was on the fritz a few days ago?

50 undeveloped eggs. Cold when I opened the incubator.

Just recalibrated it for a third time. May need to start replacing parts. This incubator was a gift and it’s not that great. I’ve had more problems with it... I’m about ready to throw it out. Going to let it sit for a couple of days and throw some test eggs from the yard birds in there.

If they don’t develop I’m going to take a hammer to this thing.

Not really.

Just got my other hovas plugged in for the season so it will be no loss to lose this incubator in the hatching string.