First Incubation!!- about to start tonight with some ?s

[sunnie7]

What better time than with schools out to do our first hatch! We have 30 eggs we are planning to put in this evening. We were given a Little Giant 5200 with a turner and fan from a neighbor that said he’s had several good hatches form it. He also told me he always keeps water in the bottom reservoirs. I have had it on for close to 24 hours and Using a thermometer with the wire (he also gave me) it’s reading 99.5 at the bottom of the turner and using a ThermoPro it’s reading 102.2 on the top and 52% humidity. Should I adjust it down a little and what about the humidity is it too high? How often do you usually have to add water?

 

[Mvan42]

Is the probe for the thermometer close to the one inside. I would wait to put the eggs in until you have a confirmed temp. Those are to far apart to know which is right. Do you have another one you can use to triple check it, to see which one is right or close. Here is a link to calibrate but I don't know if it works on digital ones. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/testing-calibrating-incubator-thermometers.73634/

 

[sunnie7]

Is the probe for the thermometer close to the one inside. I would wait to put the eggs in until you have a confirmed temp. Those are to far apart to know which is right. Do you have another one you can use to triple check it, to see which one is right or close. Here is a link to calibrate but I don't know if it works on digital ones. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/testing-calibrating-incubator-thermometers.73634/

the probe one is a little bit further down where the bottom part of the egg would sit.

 

[Mvan42]

the probe one is a little bit further down where the bottom part of the egg would sit.

I think the recommendation is it need to be around where the top of the egg will be. I would either try to calibrate or find another one to use to check the temps. As for humidity I like to keep mine between 30-45% for the first 18 days then raise it up to around 55-65% for lockdown.

 

[Mvan42]

if the wire will reach lay it on the other one inside the incubator. This will help you figure out if they are really reading differently or if its just the location.

Is your incubator circulated air (has a fan) or still air(no fan)?

 

[sunnie7]

if the wire will reach lay it on the other one inside the incubator. This will help you figure out if they are really reading differently or if its just the location.

Is your incubator circulated air (has a fan) or still air(no fan)?

Circulated; It has the fan kit added to it.
moved the wire to on top of the other thermometer and the wired one is 99.5 and the other thermpro one is 101.8. I don’t have any other thermometers.

 

[sunnie7]

It’s been extremely rainy around here the past week so the eggs I got were pretty dirty. This is what they look like after I wiped them with a dry cloth. Are they too dirty?
Also I looks at the thread with examples of porous vs non porous but I can’t tell?! Do these look okay?

 

[Mvan42]

I have one like the one inside it keeps a good temp. I would go with what that one says. and maybe lower just a bit..

The eggs look fine. A little bit of mud or poo on them shouldn't hurt, it would be worse if you washed the bloom off. Good luck

 

[sunnie7]

I’ve set my eggs and now my thermometer difference is even worse can someone send me a link for one off Amazon I could try? ...and my automatic turner now isn’t working. Grrrrr. My kids are old enough I think that can handle this task. How long after first putting them in do I start turning them?

 

[Mvan42]

What is the difference now...