Got a couple incubators

[dustponds10]

Ok so I am new to this and I am wondering what I need to do now? I am going to set them up and I got the hyrameter or humidity meter and thermometer so I am gong to see what they all read. I am really looking forward to this. I will get eggs when everything is up and running and I am comfortable with my equipment. I am pretty excited. If any advice please post here. Please post how to find how far off thermometers and hydrameters are. and any interesting facts that I might need to know. Thanks. Oh and how do you candle? Is there anyway that I could make one?

 

[chickintexas]

Here is a great site that tells you how to calibrate your hyggrometer.
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/herpresources/ss/hygrometer.htm
Sounds like you've already got a great plan...get comfortable with you incubators and make sure everything is running right before getting those eggs!

Did you return that thermometer you were having issues with? I'm taking mine back tomorrow and upgrading.

Good luck to you!

 

[Illia]

I find that an easy way to candle is to simply get a high powered flashlight, hold the egg up against it with your hand cupping away any escaping light, and look and see what you have.

If there's veins, a huge dark mass, or a dark spot moving around - You've got life in there.

If it is just a faintly dark smudge moving around, it's a quitter. But don't worry of anything until day 10-14.

 

[dustponds10]

I just went and bought some $1 backups to check them against. I got some of those cheap ones from Walmart. I am going to have two in the incubators so I will see what they both read and go from there. Down the road I am going to be probably buying newer and nicer but for now I am going to get some experience doing it with cheaper equipment. I mean i will probably get what I paid for but I will for sure get great experience.

 

[dustponds10]

Ok so I am making some progress, I did the humidity test with the half cup of salt and quarter cup of water.. It went well the temps on both units and a back up thermometer all read the same but the hydrameters read different by quite a bit. ONe is low by 10 which I think that I can work with, but the other is down by 25 and that bugs me a ton so I am going to be taking the one back for sure. I am going to be turning on my incubators here today so I can see what the temp needs to be and play with the humidity and all so I will keep you all up to date as I am a rookie. I sure appericate all the help to this point. I am sure I will have a ton more questions. Thanks all again. Oh I am also building a coop in an old coop that was gutted I will post pictures in the coop forum. Anyways thaks again