First Ever Incubator- HELP ME!

[artathart]

Okay so I am not sure if there is a thread just for questions like mine, but I need answers now sooner rather than later. I placed my eggs in about 45 mins ago. I am incubating Marans, Welsummer and Americauna.

1. How many red plugs should I leave in my LG Incubator? When do I remove any plugs for any reason? (Instructions were not very clear on this)

2. How soon will the temp rise after I add the eggs. I had the incubator on and monitoring it for 3 days prior to adding eggs. I added the eggs about 30 mins again and it is still at 87 degrees. I don't want to adjust the temp and end of baking my eggs. How soon can I expect it t return to 99.5 degrees?

3. Do I want 99.5 or 101 degrees? Instructions say 99.5 while numerous websites suggest using 100-101 in still air incubators?

4. Luck with digital thermometers? I got two LG thermometers and both were a few degrees off so I took some advice and bought a digital thermometer with a separate sensor. I placed the sensor in a space where there were no eggs on the egg turner. Will this be okay under heat? Package states is indoor/outdoor safe up to 125 degrees.

5. Moisture. I also bought a regular thermometer that has a humidity thermometer on the bottom. Do I place this in the incubator or outside the incubator?

6. Water or not to water? I placed water in the center reservoir but not in the outer ring. I figure with all the different methods I have been reading for water, this was win win. Suggestions on water? I am in Maryland if that helps.

Thanks so much. I really want this to work out well.

 

[paddock36]

Give me a second to read all your questions and I'll try to help.

Not sure about all the plugs but first air has to be able to get into the incubator, it doesn't need to be completely sealed.
As far as the water. Check your humidity and if it is higher than you need it then maybe you can take out a plug. My incubator is homemade but the more water I add the higher the humidity is, I'm sure yours is the same. I would let the temp be on the cooler rather than the higher since this is your first time and you don't want to risk the temp spikes if it is already at 101. Hopefully I helped. Someone else might know better though since I don't have one of those brand incubators.

 

[Celtic Hill]

This is what I do.

I run it so the incubator is around 99 for a few days. When I am ready to fill the incubator I will fill the water ducts. Place the eggs in and monitor it while it comes up to temperature. I barely ever touch the dial. If I need to bring the temperature up what I will do is place a blanket over it if i need it to go down I will take the blanket off and remove one of the red plugs (i use them to help regulate the temperature) I let mine go between 98-102, this may seem like alot but i have chicks hatching as we speak. The thermometer in there and there is no issue. I only fill the water things up when I candel. When it comes time for lock down i take straws and put them through the vent holes, one in each corner and sponges in the corners under the wire. Make sure to place the incubator on a tray because there is holes on the bottom of it, then i use a syringe to put water in.

 

[artathart]

I am now up to 89 degrees. I fear I will not sleep a wink tonight watching the thremometer.....

 

[macdoogle]

1) I left the red plugs in until lockdown then I remove them if humidity or temp gets too high.

2) Depends on the temp of you eggs. Dont worry. It will take a while.

3) Anything between 99 and 102 worked for me.

4) place your thermometer on top of the eggs. The temp varries from top to bottom of the eggs. Also, my thermometer varried depending on angle of egg turner.

5) I didn't worry about moisture until lockdown. Live in a dry area. Moisture around 30. Brought it up to 55 to 65 upon lock down by adding more warm water. My LG sits on top of an aquarium so I could add water at will and excess would drip down.

6) In Maryland you have more moisture in the air. I'm in San Diego and it's dry here, If you are incubating inside and have central heating I bet things are dry in the house. Don't worry until lock down.

I hope this helps. Good luck. Only on my second hatch myself but we all learn alot from each other.

 

[madrooster]

welcome to our addiction lol, dont go crazy about the temp sometimes it takes 24 hrs for the eggs to come up to temp so give it until tommorow to start checkin ur temps they will come up , the eggs have to start gettin warm so dont freak ur self out if ur temps were holding then u will be fine. just check back tommorwo i was the same way onm the first night but don t woory it will be ok. as far as the plugs go everybody is diff, fill the center leaves plugs in, take 1 plug out take 2 out just c whats works best for your area. add wqater etc dont woory about it as long as its not 5o or above ur ok at first just keep an eye on it.on my hova still air i run 101 to 102 and i only loose a couple eggs due to who knows what but higher temps helps me bator so thats what i run. rememebr when u set ur eggs forget them for 24 hrs and then start to check and make sure dont freak ur self out and woory about it, good luck on ur hatch and keep us uptodate on ur progress.

 

[artathart]

Quote:
Thanks so much for the help. I did fill the center ring up with water, but not the outer ring. I am not going to open the lid to remove it so I will just leave it be and let it evaporate on its own. The moisture in my house about 1 foot above the incubator (Still dont know if I should place this in the incubator or not) is reading at 55% so likely I didnt need all that water. my digital thermometer is now reading 93 degrees so its climbing, just a slow climb. About a degree every half hour or so. I put both the red plugs back in.

How exciting is it to bring life into the world? I can hardly wait

 

[macdoogle]

Also, once your temp stabolizes it's good to take the top off the incubator for a few minutes each day. Like broody hen getting off the nest for food and R&R.

 

[artathart]

Quote:
Wow, Never heard of doing that. Thanks for the advice.

 

[bburn]

It says to take one of the red plugs off. I did.
I have two LG thermometers and they read different. So I am an overdooer and bought three more different ones. I have a digital that is a hydrometer and can't figure out how to calibrate it....makes no sense.
I put a little water in every day. Not a lot....hope to have the hydrometer under control this week.

Temps: 99.5 is what the LG instructions say. I have a thermometer that says that. I also have one that is a little lower. Then I have the one that is three degrees higher. And finally the one that says just a touch above 100. Figure I have an average going here that is good.

I know....it is all confusing. Keeping a steady temp I think might just be the trick. Within the range that everyone says. 99.5-101