First time incubating

[Zanlm]

Take some pics and show us!

 

[PD-Riverman]

I do have the eggs down with the thermometer and it is reading 100-101. With some small spikes to 102 but I'm watching very close and vent it back to 100. I have the humidity to 67 right now buy putting a moist sponge on top of the light that has a cage around it. Still no hatch and it is now day 23. I really don't know what to do other than wait it out!

I do not know any other thing to do either. I have hatched alot of eggs using several incubators---but have never had them to go past day 21/22. They are usually hatched before day 21 ends. Hope they will hatch for you!!

 

[pogmobum]

Candle to check for internal pips or just wait and try to be patient i have heard of chicks hatching as late at 27 days so there is always hope good luck!

 

[mbelim]

Hello guys, I'm sorry that I'm adding my question to this post. I have also recently started to incubate and I have zero knowledge of how it works.
I have placed 48 eggs into my incubator.
What I'm afraid of is that I have placed them laying on their side on the hatching mesh itself. I was skeptical to keep them in the egg cartons as the guy who was incubating before me had not used egg cartons. Is this ok? I am currently on day 5.
Also, as far as humidity is concerned, is that something I should be controlling? I really don't even know how to do that. I just filled water in the tiny dish and slipped underneath my hatcher mesh in the incubator..... hmmm... I really don't know anything lol

oops one more question, I was told to turn eggs twice a day only???? Is this ok? What is the metod of turning since I have them on the hatcher mesh?
Tnx

 

[Jessshan8]

Hello guys, I'm sorry that I'm adding my question to this post. I have also recently started to incubate and I have zero knowledge of how it works.
I have placed 48 eggs into my incubator.
What I'm afraid of is that I have placed them laying on their side on the hatching mesh itself. I was skeptical to keep them in the egg cartons as the guy who was incubating before me had not used egg cartons. Is this ok? I am currently on day 5.
Also, as far as humidity is concerned, is that something I should be controlling? I really don't even know how to do that. I just filled water in the tiny dish and slipped underneath my hatcher mesh in the incubator..... hmmm... I really don't know anything lol

oops one more question, I was told to turn eggs twice a day only???? Is this ok? What is the metod of turning since I have them on the hatcher mesh?
Tnx

On their side is perfectly fine. as far as turning the eggs, at least 3x a day is recommended more is ok as long as it is an odd number to prevent the eggs from laying on the same side each night. The mesh is perfectly fine as well just remember to disinfect completely between hatches to prevent bacteria from building up and effecting the eggs. As far as turning eggs some mark eggs with an "o" on one side and an "x" 180 degrees from the o. This is best to prevent missing one or more eggs while turning so all the eggs will show an x or an o.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hello guys, I'm sorry that I'm adding my question to this post. I have also recently started to incubate and I have zero knowledge of how it works.
I have placed 48 eggs into my incubator.
What I'm afraid of is that I have placed them laying on their side on the hatching mesh itself. I was skeptical to keep them in the egg cartons as the guy who was incubating before me had not used egg cartons. Is this ok? I am currently on day 5.
Also, as far as humidity is concerned, is that something I should be controlling? I really don't even know how to do that. I just filled water in the tiny dish and slipped underneath my hatcher mesh in the incubator..... hmmm... I really don't know anything lol

oops one more question, I was told to turn eggs twice a day only???? Is this ok? What is the metod of turning since I have them on the hatcher mesh?
Tnx

Its Good you are seaking knowledge before it is "to late". I would suggest in the future if you decide to build a Atomic Bomb- that you do some home-work before you start building it--------- just like incubating---LOL.

 

[Jessshan8]

Quote: it's not as complicated as an atomic bomb and there are a hundred different ways and opinions on how to best set and incubate eggs. I say good on you for asking advice......You can never fail if you never try and the best teacher in in the trying and finding out what best works for you. I am wishing you much success. Post pics please!

 

[StephensonC]

it's not as complicated as an atomic bomb and there are a hundred different ways and opinions on how to best set and incubate eggs. I say good on you for asking advice......You can never fail if you never try and the best teacher in in the trying and finding out what best works for you. I am wishing you much success. Post pics please!

I totally agree! The whole process, is a learning process!! I have done a multitude of research, however, at times, it can be overwhelming trying to learn so much so fast. Personally, I learn better through trial & error and hands on experiences. We have all had our "first" hatch experiences, and no matter how knowledgeable we "think" we are, more than likely we will always encounter different situations, that we may not be familiar with. Thank goodness we have BYC members that are "truly" helpful and wish us much success!!


Good luck with your hatch!!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

This is a excellent article on incubating eggs a very good read. Humidity is crucial during incubation. The reason is that eggs need to lose enough moisture over the entire incubation period in order for the air cell at the fat end of the egg to grow large enough for the chick to pip into. If the humidity has been too high during incubation the air sac will not have grown enough and when the chick internally pips into it the chick could drown in the excess moisture. Not enough humidity and the air sac could be too big and the chick could become shrink wrapped in the shell and unable to hatch.

Humidity needs to be an average over the entire incubation period. To monitor humidity you need a hygrometer in your incubator its measured in % 45% is the usual for day 1-18 in order for eggs to lose enough moisture. Then when you lockdown at day 18 and stop turning your eggs it should be 65%. The higher humidity at lockdown should stop the chicks sticking or becoming shrink wrapped. I personally don't open my bator again untill after hatch is complete this way you don't lose any humidity you have built up.

To create humidity you need surface area of water and not depth. Wet sponges or cloths work well for the surface area to get the moisture into the air. After adding or removing water it's best to let the incubator settle and stabilise before making any adjustments.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your hatch @mbelim

 

[PD-Riverman]

it's not as complicated as an atomic bomb and there are a hundred different ways and opinions on how to best set and incubate eggs. I say good on you for asking advice......You can never fail if you never try and the best teacher in in the trying and finding out what best works for you. I am wishing you much success. Post pics please!

Jess, you never had a egg to explode in the incubator---thats almost as bad as a atomic bomb----Just "playing" LOL. Just as I was in my above post. But being serious-----for someone that Knows "Nothing" about incubating "I" would Highly recommend a little reading before they set the incubator----and as I posted above it was good he/she reached out for help now before all those eggs were wasted!