Heating Incubator and humidity

[eggsited chickens]

I am going to stick eggs into the incubator today. Do I heat the incubator first, or do I stick the eggs in first then heat it up? Can you tell this is my first time?

 

[Ridgerunner]

You should bring the incubator up to temperature before you set the eggs and run it a bit to be sure it is stabilized. I had to reset mine to get the right temperature because a dip switch became unset, due to handling I presume.

Since it is your first time, you might read through this link. You don't absolutely have to do exactly as this link suggests or be faced with certain gloom and doom, but you may get some tips out of it that will improve your odds of a good hatch. The instructions that come with the incubator are also a great help.

Texas A&M Incubation site
http://gallus.tamu.edu/library/extpublications/b6092.pdf

 

[Shifty Joe]

You run the bator for at least 12? hours, but I've always heard you try to run it for a few days to ensure the temperatures stay level. You don't want to find out you have issues a few days into the setting.

 

[eggsited chickens]

Ok, another question. I have seen variables on humidity. One website I read that 65% humidy the first 18 days, others I see 45-50%. Then for LD I saw upto 85% humidity, but also see 65%. SO what is the norm?

 

[kid-n-chickens]

I see a few lower and a few higher but I mostly have seen and I run 45-50% the first 18 days and 60-70% during lockdown. As the chicks hatch the humidity will go up and I dont worry unless the windows fogg over then I just slightly remove one creating a crack until most of the fog is gone around 5 minutes then replace the windows and drive on How ever I do not panic if it gets a little above the 50% or 70% but I do try to keep it above the 45 and 60% b/c I have found when I let it run below those that is when I got the shrink wrapped chicks. In order to get your humidity up that high during lock down you might have to get a slim long tray to put water in as well as add sponges. Good LUCK!