For me, this might just be too stressful

[Katoo1]

I feel like everything can and will go wrong. I'm constantly checking temp and humidity, I even wake up during the night. Nothing ever seems to be 100% stable although it's pretty close to that. I just don't feel very relaxed about the whole thing at all and I have this pervading sense of doom that nothing will hatch. And it's only day 4. Yikes.

My temp varies from 98.9 to 100.1. My humidity from around 28% to 45%.

I just wish I could feel a little more laid-back and relaxed about it. I think I've read too many horror stories at this point.

Eek.

 

[h4ppy-chris]

your doing great

your temp and humidity is spot on.

 

[kelidei]

I remind myself that when incubating "au natural" mama bird gets off the nest a few times a day to stretch, eat, drink and relieve herself. I noticed that the eggs cool off and naturally the humidity drops as well. I realized there is probably a lot more fluctuation in both when mama bird does it herself than when using a well monitored incubator... helps me put things in perspective

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
X2

I was like you the first time. I lived in front of the incubator which I purposely put at the far end of a really junky basement to prevent just that.
A wise BYC member once told me that the temp/humidity/turning thing were guidlines. He said following all the rules incubating doesn't guarantee success, not following the rules doesn't guarantee failure.

Since then I set it and leave it.

 

[johnsons-r-us]

Haven't done it yet....but 21 days is a loooonnnnnggggg time to wait. Sounds like you're doing just fine!

 

[Katoo1]

Quote:
X2

I was like you the first time. I lived in front of the incubator which I purposely put at the far end of a really junky basement to prevent just that.
A wise BYC member once told me that the temp/humidity/turning thing were guidlines. He said following all the rules incubating doesn't guarantee success, not following the rules doesn't guarantee failure.

Since then I set it and leave it.

That's very helpful, thanks so much.

 

[stoopid]

Are you using a digital thermometer/hydrometer?
If you breathe next to the bator, everything changes. Will set you into a panic.
Don't sweat it, should be fine...

 

[Sharisr32]

Hatching - Is like Baking what may work in your oven may not work in mine - I had to create the Shari House Rules of incubation- I do not add water - I do not check humidity

Everything is adjustable -It took a lot of eggs for me to figure out I just had to monitor two things Location and Temp - Get those two things right and I will have about a 90% hatch

I do not take out my eggs out of the turner they hatch right in it--and no I have never had a chick get flattened lol --- The stress leaves the first time you get the hatch--

 

[1muttsfan]

Welcome to the incubation roller coaster

it's fun but fraught with perils. Stick with it , those little peepers are worth it

 

[georgiagail]

Thank goodness we're not incubating elephants that have a 21 MONTH gestation!

Gail