First time incubating

[mbelim]

1st----ALWAYS get your incubator running at the proper temp at least 24 hours before you add any eggs.
 Its not unsusal for two thermometers to read a little different---which one is right??? I do not know----divide the difference---add 2 tenths to the lowest and minus 2 tenths for the highest---hatch a load of eggs---if they hatch a little early or a little late then you can write on the thermometer you need to add or minus a little to get them to hatch around late day 20 early day 21.

If your humidity is to high---put a slightly smaller water pan in it. In most places the humidity will rise at night if you are set-up in a uncontrolled building---BUT Your humidity is close according to your readings.

You seem to be planning to hatch alot of chicks---forget that shelf---to many chicks, to much poop to have to clean out----1/2" wire floor brooders is the way I would go with poop catcher trays that you can dump every day or two without having to remove the chicks everytime.

Why Not turn the eggs on day 2? Never heard of that. My eggs get turned from the day I put them in the incubator to day 18 and I have a real high hatch rate.

Could you possibly show me a pic of the brooder you recommend?
I don't have much space, for that reason I opted for the multi layered brooder.

I have been advised to start turning on day 4??
I fill the Incubator with eggs. Keep it locked and vents sealed for 4 days. Then open vents and start to turn on day 4. That's what I have been told. Should i rather turn from day one?

tnx

 

[Jessshan8]

Firstly it is my opinion that you should always have the vents open to allow for fresh air ie: the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide so I would never block all vents.
Secondly Are the eggs your own or eggs that you have had shipped to you. if they are your eggs or eggs that you have obtained locally turn eggs from day one. If they are shipped eggs, most like to let them set in the incubator for a few days to allow the aircell to reattach as these usually become dislodged during their rough journey through the postal system.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Firstly it is my opinion that you should always have the vents open to allow for fresh air ie: the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide so I would never block all vents.
Secondly Are the eggs your own or eggs that you have had shipped to you. if they are your eggs or eggs that you have obtained locally turn eggs from day one. If they are shipped eggs, most like to let them set in the incubator for a few days to allow the aircell to reattach as these usually become dislodged during their rough journey through the postal system.

I keep my vents open as well from day one. Unless I have a dip in temp (Styro bator) and then I will cover one to try to get it back up w/o touching the gage, but they mostly stay open. And yes, it does make a difference if they were shipped, I wasn't thinking about that. good catch. Because there are so many I just assumed they were local. Local eggs do need to be turned from day one.

 

[mbelim]

Firstly it is my opinion that you should always have the vents open to allow for fresh air ie: the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide so I would never block all vents.
Secondly Are the eggs your own or eggs that you have had shipped to you. if they are your eggs or eggs that you have obtained locally turn eggs from day one. If they are shipped eggs, most like to let them set in the incubator for a few days to allow the aircell to reattach as these usually become dislodged during their rough journey through the postal system.

I keep my vents open as well from day one. Unless I have a dip in temp (Styro bator) and then I will cover one to try to get it back up w/o touching the gage, but they mostly stay open. And yes, it does make a difference if they were shipped, I wasn't thinking about that. good catch. Because there are so many I just assumed they were local. Local eggs do need to be turned from day one.

Hi, thank you all for your valuable advice. I really appreciate it.
My eggs are not shipped. I get them from a local farmer.... so I guess I should be turning from day one?

The other thing that I would really like some advice on is the method of turning? I currently have all eggs on the mesh wire and I turn them vertically 3x daily.
Since I have so many eggs, I was wondering if it would be possible that I set eggs in a tray and simply tilt the tray 3x daily?? Is this at all feasible?
I have attached pics here below, a demonstration more or less of what I intend doing. Turning every single egg 3x a day is becoming a bit difficult lol and sometimes I'm afraid to mishandle the egg.

Eggs in tray

Eggs tilted using a prop underneath...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi, thank you all for your valuable advice. I really appreciate it.
My eggs are not shipped. I get them from a local farmer.... so I guess I should be turning from day one?

The other thing that I would really like some advice on is the method of turning? I currently have all eggs on the mesh wire and I turn them vertically 3x daily.
Since I have so many eggs, I was wondering if it would be possible that I set eggs in a tray and simply tilt the tray 3x daily?? Is this at all feasible?
I have attached pics here below, a demonstration more or less of what I intend doing. Turning every single egg 3x a day is becoming a bit difficult lol and sometimes I'm afraid to mishandle the egg.

Eggs in tray


Eggs tilted using a prop underneath...

I've seen people use this method for turning, but if you do, you need to cut a hole in the bottom of each egg cup, (just cut out center of the bottom) so that air can still circulate underneath. ;-)

 

[PD-Riverman]

Could you possibly show me a pic of the brooder you recommend?
I don't have much space, for that reason I opted for the multi layered brooder.

I have been advised to start turning on day 4??
I fill the Incubator with eggs. Keep it locked and vents sealed for 4 days. Then open vents and start to turn on day 4. That's what I have been told. Should i rather turn from day one?

tnx

You can use the shelf, its just going to be more work---alot more work. I do not have time to look for a pic right now but something like a 2 to 3ft wide--6 to 8ft long wooden box about 2ft deep sides, 1/2x1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom, and some kind of trays to put under the wire to catch the poop as well as help hold in some heat. A couple 100 watt + or - light bulbs in the middle hooked to a wafer thermostat would be nice, maybe a smaller bulb that stays on all the time so when the big bulbs cycle off---the chicks are not in the dark.

I use stacking rabbit cages. My homemade racks holds 2--2ft square cages three tiers tall---6 cages per rack, I have the 24"x24" catch pans under each cage to catch the poop as well as keep the lower cages from getting pooped on and these trays help hold in heat. The tray edges are real close to the bottom of the cages. I also use the big rubbermaid type storage totes without the lid---I hang a 60 watt bulb towards one end, food/water on the other and I use wood shavings in the bottom. If its really cold I cover about 1/2 of the heated end of the tote with something to help hold in some heat.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hi, thank you all for your valuable advice. I really appreciate it.
My eggs are not shipped. I get them from a local farmer.... so I guess I should be turning from day one?

The other thing that I would really like some advice on is the method of turning? I currently have all eggs on the mesh wire and I turn them vertically 3x daily.
Since I have so many eggs, I was wondering if it would be possible that I set eggs in a tray and simply tilt the tray 3x daily?? Is this at all feasible?
I have attached pics here below, a demonstration more or less of what I intend doing. Turning every single egg 3x a day is becoming a bit difficult lol and sometimes I'm afraid to mishandle the egg.

Eggs in tray


Eggs tilted using a prop underneath...

You like to build----why not take 2 pieces of 1x2" wood and a hand full of dowel rods----drilling holes in the 1x2 a little farther apart than your widest eggs---the 1x2 will be on the outer edge's with the dowel rods attached to them---the width of your wire----you lay the eggs between the dowel rods then all you got to do is pull the rack a couple inches one way---the dowel rods will make all the eggs roll---in a few hours you can then push the rack back and the eggs will roll again----Simple, easy and you can attach a motor if you want to make it automatic!

 

[Jessshan8]

an easy thing to do would be to get a 1"x1" or about size piece of wood the same lenght as your carton and attach it to the center on the bottom then you could rock it from side to side that way.

 

[mbelim]

You can use the shelf, its just going to be more work---alot more work. I do not have time to look for a pic right now but something like a 2 to 3ft wide--6 to 8ft long wooden box about 2ft deep sides, 1/2x1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom, and some kind of trays to put under the wire to catch the poop as well as help hold in some heat. A couple 100 watt + or - light bulbs in the middle hooked to a wafer thermostat would be nice, maybe a smaller bulb that stays on all the time so when the big bulbs cycle off---the chicks are not in the dark.

I use stacking rabbit cages. My homemade racks holds 2--2ft square cages three tiers tall---6 cages per rack, I have the 24"x24" catch pans under each cage to catch the poop as well as keep the lower cages from getting pooped on and these trays help hold in heat. The tray edges are real close to the bottom of the cages. I also use the big rubbermaid type storage totes without the lid---I hang a 60 watt bulb towards one end, food/water on the other and I use wood shavings in the bottom. If its really cold I cover about 1/2 of the heated end of the tote with something to help hold in some heat.

Hmm, quite interesting....
I will see to keep that in mind... for now I do have a made up brooder. I'm kinda perfectionist lol and I don't like the untidiness of my current brooder box. I will post a pic later maybe.

So I will see to make a brooder as you suggested as soon as I find some time...

 

[mbelim]

You like to build----why not take 2 pieces of 1x2" wood and a hand full of dowel rods----drilling holes in the 1x2 a little farther apart than your widest eggs---the 1x2 will be on the outer edge's with the dowel rods attached to them---the width of your wire----you lay the eggs between the dowel rods then all you got to do is pull the rack a couple inches one way---the dowel rods will make all the eggs roll---in a few hours you can then push the rack back and the eggs will roll again----Simple, easy and you can attach a motor if you want to make it automatic!

For now I'm looking for a temporary fix as I have no time at all to build lol. Will see in the new year maybe.
tnx for the idea though. I'm sure I will be including it on one of my boxes soon.