first attempt - LOTS of ?'s

[Barnyard]

I am glade someone posted this, I have a couple of question's. I have just set my bator up for the first time and my temp is ranging anywhere from 99.5-100.5, is this ok? The other question In order to get an accurate reading for the humidity, does the tester need to be inside or out of the bator? Right now I have it outside on top of the bator and it is saying the humidity is 40%, which I don't think is right because I have just about filled the trough on the inside up. I haven't put any eggs in yet trying to get all the kinks worked out first.........Please help!!

 

[jeaucamom]

to get an accurate humidity reading you need to have it inside the bator. If it is outside you are getting the reading in your house. This I am sure of.

The low temp seems okay, but the high temp seems just a smidge too high, but not enough to mess with it. This question though, will have to be answered by someone with more experience.

Good luck!! Suz

 

[Barnyard]

Thankyou Suz!! I thought I needed to put it inside but needed someone to set me straight. Just checked temp again and it was 100.0. Hopefully it will even out!!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

It needs to be inside the bator for a reading..and inside humidity should be 40 to 50% the first 18 days..up to 60 to 70% last 3....temps aren't bad at all but that depends on type of bator still air or what?......I have an old model that set for 99.8...thats how mine hatch out at and I've had 100% hatches from my own eggs....

 

[Barnyard]

tuffoldhen it is a Hova-Bator, circulated air. I put the tester in the bator and the humidty is at 64%, so I need to take some water out, right?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Right...your humidity needs to be between 40 to 50% during the first 18 days...just somewhere in those degrees....I think your temps are ok but someone else might chime in...what did the instructions say to keep temps at?....

 

[Barnyard]

Well the instructions said 100.5, but everyone on here say's 99.5, so I figured as long I didn't go any higher than100.5 then I should be ok.....maybe,lol! Right now my humidity is at 53%, is that ok or should I take more water out? Thankyou so much for your help!!!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Your temp is running alright right then...100.5 would be perfect...If it was my bator I would try to take out alittle more water...just abit.. I keep mine at 40 to 45%.....you don't want your humidity too high the first 18 days it will drown your chicks in the eggs...

 

[cadman68]

the temps you are talking about are only a fraction off so i wouldn't fool with it, besides it typically only prolongs the hatch (too cold) or you get an early hatch (too hot), but the temp range you have mentioned isnt going to kill the embryos.

As far as 53% humidity goes, i would leave it as it will decrease on it's on over the next day or 2. I usually leave mine higher than that anyway, somewhere around 55%-60% then on day 18 increase to 65%-70%.

Just my 2 cents, good luck!

 

[Barnyard]

Thankyou all for your help!

Ok I have taken almost all of the water out of the bator and my humidityis at 61%, what's next??? I have ordered eggs, but I don't want to tell them to send them to me untile my number's are right!!