First Time Incubation

[kinardmommy]

This is my first incubation and I have a Little Giant still air incubator. I am on day 17 and everything has gone well so far. I amm a concerned about a few things though:

-how can I tell how high the humidity is to prepare for the hatch?

-any suggestions to raise humidity?

-Should I open both air holes to prepare for hatch or just leave one open?

-Please give any oher info you may have


Thank You

 

[chickalator]

the incubator should have said when to fill the trays. just do what the instructions say when it comes to humidity. youll be fine.

 

[Keisha]

Hi, and good luck with your first time incubating chicks! (btw what are they?) My first time was last fall, its pretty exciting. I also have a Still air little giant incubator with turner too...

-how can I tell how high the humidity is to prepare for the hatch?

You can get a hydrometer which measures the humidity. I have a thermometer/hydrometer combo that I got at walmart for like 7 bucks. Without one I wouldnt know how you could tell how high the humidity is...

-any suggestions to raise humidity?

I had just filled the trays at the bottom of the incubator and if the humidity started getting low I just added more water to the trays.

-Should I open both air holes to prepare for hatch or just leave one open?

When I did it I believe I left them both closed since there are other holes for ventilation and I didnt want any variation in my temperature.

I found it easier to put in egg cartons with the top cut off after I took the out for them to hatch in.

Im sure someone with more expierance will come along and give you more information.​

 

[Wooden_Pony]

-any suggestions to raise humidity?

I use a small bowl of water in mine but make sure you fill it with marbles so that your chicks do not drown in it. You can also use a wet sponge or some CLEAN thick socks.

As for knowing the humdity Keisha is right. You really need to buy a hygrometer for that. You can also buy them at you local pet store in the reptile department. Make sure before you put the hydrometer into your incubator you calibrate it. That way you get the proper reading on it once you put it into your incubator.

-Should I open both air holes to prepare for hatch or just leave one open?

Pulled out both one of my red plugs. But I also had a hard time keeping my humdity up to have both pulled.​