Dry air incubator humidity and egg cartons?!

[wescottwomen]

Ok so I have had 2 bad hatch outs 0 success so I'm giving it one last try
My temp is 102 humidity is 55 I can't get humidity any lower becuse there is no water in the incubator and all of the holes are uncovered
I have 25 eggs from my own flock they are fertile
I want to use egg cartons instead of setting them on the metal floor there is no wire mesh to lay them on any opinion advice anything I don't want any more dead chicks un hatched eggs

 

[loveourbirds]

im assuming your using a hovabator, little giant or similar incubator. let me know if im wrong.

lower your temperature to 100.5 to 101. cut the "egg holder" part of your cartons in half lengthways. poke a few holes through the sides for better ventilation. lean them against one side of the incubator, when its time to turn switch sides. when your leaning them, put them at about 45 degrees off center.

put one of your plugs back in, fill 1/2 of the water troughs. let it dry out before you put more water in. don't pay attention to humidity you will only drive yourself nuts, if your using one of the incubators I mentioned they are already set up for what you need.

day 1-17 hold your temp as close to 100.5 as possible, if it drops don't adjust just don't let it get over 101 for any extended period of time. if it drops below 98 degrees for more than a few hours adjust it up a touch. don't adjust hastily. open your incubator for 15 or 20 minutes a day, the oxygen and cool down are beneficial to the embryos.

on day 18 take them out of the cartons, fill all troughs (not to full) pull the second vent plug. keep an eye on your water, if it dries out open the incubator and add some more, spray the eggs lightly with water close to hatching temp before you put the lid back.

on your last two hatches, did the eggs form and not hatch? did they quit half way through? where did the eggs come from?
I want to get you hatching, the above information will get you started. I want to find out what went wrong before, and help you get past it.

 

[wescottwomen]

I'm useing an old sears and robuck galvanized steel incubator about 50 yrs old ,there is no wire screen on the bottom to set the eggs on so that they get no ventilation all the way around .There are no water troughs but when I put even a bit of water in it the humidity jacks up to the 80s ,we live in new hampshire so humidity is already high here. the last to hatch outs I had two chicks hatch the first one shrink wrapped the second the egg got stuck to the floor of the incubator pip side down so the chick couldn't get it's self out in time by the time i found it it was to late .nither chick fuzzed up

the eggs come from my own flock of birds nice healthy big birds

 

[crowsnestfarms]

If you are using a forced air incubator, your temperature needs to run 99.5 degrees. If this is the case you are cooking your eggs at 102. I use a home made incubator I made out of a side by side fridge and I add just very little water until day 18. Starting at day 18 I boost the humidity up to around 60-65%. temps run 98-100 degrees.

I am not familiar with your incubator, but if it doesn't have a fan in it, I would definitely modify it by adding one. Also, are you turning your eggs at least 3 times a day until day 18 and then leaving them be?

 

[wescottwomen]

Yes I am turning them 3 times a day adding a fan is a great idea thanks here are my incubators

 

[crowsnestfarms]

I too use those paper egg cartons to hold eggs in the incubator. I tore the flat bottom out of each egg cell in mine to allow the heated air to circulate around them. If you are not already, put your eggs in them pointy side down and fat or air cell end up. To add the fans you can use a couple of 80 mm computer fans wired to a 12 volt dc wall adaptor. Or, if you prefer an AC fan just be on the lookout for a non working refrigerator and take the fans out of it. There is usually a good aluminum bladed fan at the bottom of the fridge somewhere that cools the compressor, or you can take the back apart inside the freezer section and there is usually a good little plastic bladed fan in there. Either of these you can wire to a regular plug and plug into the wall. I have mine wired so that the fans run constantly and it works out good.

 

[wescottwomen]

Thank you yes I pocked out the bottom of each carton and we have a couple of debunked appliances here so ill have hubby retrieve those fans here's hoping for a successfully hatch btw the dome incubators are due to pip any time so I'm hoping it works out with them

 

[crowsnestfarms]

Good luck with your hatch. If I can help in any way, don't hesitate to ask.

Chuck

 

[loveourbirds]

I had to do a little research on your incubator, I have an old friend who has hatched thousands out of an incubator similar to yours. I myself have always used little giants and GQF sportsmans with auto turners. I had never used one like yours and I didn't want to give you bad advice. he said (with southern ohio temp and humidity) he does not put any water in until day 18, when he does it is in a dish that is about 3 inches square. (its the surface area of the water that determins the humidity.)

his was an old brower incubator, galvanized steel a little smaller than a wash tub. I am assuming yours is the same. if your incubator is not insulated, do not add a fan. you will lose more heat than the element can recover, if it can hold temp it will be extra dry.

another note I made of his, he had 1/4 inch mesh hardware cloth propped up on 1 inch thick blocks. im thinking it was to help with even-ness of the temperature. he did use the typical method of marking an x on his eggs for turning. he said its not important however, just rolling your hands across the eggs is enough. he also did not recommend cartons to hold the eggs. he said when he used them he never got over a 50% hatch. laying them down he gets 70-80%. his incubator sits in the back of his house in like a closed in porch. out of the sunlight. he did say sunlight hitting it will ruin a hatch as it turns it into a sort of oven.

I hope this helps you along,
brian

 

[wescottwomen]

I had to do a little research on your incubator, I have an old friend who has hatched thousands out of an incubator similar to yours. I myself have always used little giants and GQF sportsmans with auto turners. I had never used one like yours and I didn't want to give you bad advice.  he said (with southern ohio temp and humidity) he does not put any water in until day 18, when he does it is in a dish that is about 3 inches square. (its the surface area of the water that determins the humidity.

his was an old brower incubator, galvanized steel a little smaller than a wash tub. I am assuming yours is the same. if your incubator is not insulated, do not add a fan. you will lose more heat than the element can recover, if it can hold temp it will be extra dry.

another note I made of his, he had 1/4 inch mesh hardware cloth propped up on 1 inch thick blocks. im thinking it was to help with even-ness of the temperature. he did use the typical method of marking an x on his eggs for turning. he said its not important however, just rolling your hands across the eggs is enough. he also did not recommend cartons to hold the eggs. he said when he used them he never got over a 50% hatch. laying them down he gets 70-80%. his incubator sits in the back of his house in like a closed in porch. out of the sunlight. he did say sunlight hitting it will ruin a hatch as it turns it into a sort of oven.

I hope this helps you along,
brian

Omg yes this helps thank you very much I really appreciate everything and anything that gives me more help!