First time incubating and I have some questions

[Keggen]

Earlier this week we decided to set aside some eggs each day that we would like to hatch. We have about 2 dozen good choices and I have read the thread Hatching Eggs 101 and have had my incubator running for a few hours today. I think I'd like to start them tonight, but would tomorrow be better?

I am using a new Farm Innovators model 4200 and am a little confused about some things. It came with the probe thermometer taped to the inside of the lid, upside down. I thought that seemed like the wrong place because I would have to open the lid to see the temp. So should I set it down on the wire rack below so I can see it through the window?

I am also unsure about the best way to add humidity. Should I find a heat resistant small bowl that will be small enough to also fit on the space next to the egg turner right on the metal rack? Or do I put water inside so it just sits on the bottom of the pan? I do not have any new sponges right now but can get some tomorrow. I don't want to use a used one, even if it is "clean" in case it has any residual soap, etc.

Also, one of the eggs that I want to use is a rare one but it is a little bit dirty. I know I am not supposed to wash that off so Im going to leave it as is and hope for the best. But should I really get the egg sanitizer before I get started? I should have gotten it today but Im afraid that if I wait until tomorrow some of the eggs are going to be too far for viability. I really want to put them in tonight. Can I put them in un-sanitized and sanitize them tomorrow? Or is it ok to skip the sanitizing step?

Last question.. specifically about the model of the incubator. It has a built in egg turner and it says it is a 120 volt motor used to turn the eggs six (6) times a day. Stupid question... but should I assume that it starts turning them automatically from the time I plugged it in? It does not look like there is a way to turn it on but I could be missing something. It also says to stop turning at day 18 and some things I've read say to remove them from the turning tray. Should I put them directly on the metal tray down below?

Any tips or advice would be great! I am excited to see how we do.

 

[mnferalkitty]

You add water to the plastic tray that is under the turner and wire floor, the thermometer goes on top outside the lid the probe goes down into the bator, the turner turns on when you plug it in, you remove the turner on day 18 refill your water tray with water and lay the eggs on the wire, Don't wash the egg just take a little sand paper and sand of the dirt gently, Heres a pic of how the thermometer should be used

 

[SmittenChicken]

I just got the same incubator, and the instructions were terrible! At first I thought they shorted me the probe thermometer because it was taped up under the thermostat (I think it's supposed to go on top of the eggs.) And the humidity guidelines were a lot higher than a lot of people recommend -- personally, I'm going by what I read from the experts on BYC rather than the incubator instructions.

From what I saw testing the humidity levels in mine, you'll probably only want to fill up just one part of the reservoir (center or sides) for the first part of incubation -- test it out with a hygrometer and see. I don't think you'll need extra containers, I'm planning to just put paper towels across the reservoirs to increase surface area if I need more humidity for lockdown.

Also: did you get a separate thermometer/hygrometer, and is it calibrated? If not you should before you start, the built-in ones vary quite a bit. If you haven't read the "Hatching Eggs 101" article yet, I learned a ton from it.

If your egg is just a little dirty it should be fine, and I personally would never sanitize or wash/wipe the bloom off an egg I'm planning to hatch. But I don't even have my first batch in the incubator yet, so maybe I'm not the best one to give advice...

I wondered about the turner too; once you plug it in it starts turning right away, but very gradually. At lockdown I'm planning to remove the turner and put some breathable rubber shelf liner down over the wire, but I see people hatch right on the wire too. And just FYI, apparently paper towels will dry the chicks out too much as they hatch (that was my initial plan... along with about 25 other things that probably would have resulted in a 0% hatch rate.)

What are you hatching? And are you filling up all 41 slots?