help with a new bator/LG Still Air

[chicks rule]

yep Cyn, You sent two of the Buff Brahmas X Blue Orps. Haven't tried candling them yet, figured I would wait till day five or so. I just hope I can figure out what I am looking for, lol. As far as the temp I try to keep it steady between the two readings on the mercury and digital thermometers.

 

[speckledhen]

Yep, I think you're right to wait, but just be very careful if you candle before Day 7 as the embryos are at their most delicate stage of formation.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Here are my thoughts on the LG. I hope they help.

We started with just the incubator. Trying to stabilize the
temp with it empty was impossible.

So:
We bought the fan which evened out cold spots and helped stabilize
temps AND bought the egg turner so we wouldn' have to open it
3 times a day.

We have:
1 Digital hydrometer/thermometer inside. Usually reads 101 degrees and 50% humididty
1 Digital probe temp external thermometer which reads 99 to 100.5
1 Analog hydrometer to verify our digital hydrometer - They are same - 40 to 60
2 Analog thermometers - also same readings - 101

The more eggs the better. We have 14 buff orp eggs in it from Jody and 5 of our
own mutts.

I add water to the tray every 3 days, once humidity drops to 40.

We are on day 16 of our first hatch - Fingers are crossed.

We are $150 into this thing. Should have brought the Brinsea. We'll
know in a week how well this worked.

I really don't know how the temp changes will affect a hatch. Is it really that
critical?

Don

 

[speckledhen]

Temp is more important in the long run than humidity. If it must be off, it's better slightly low than too high. Too low may delay the hatch a day or two, too high can speed up the development or even kill the embryos. Humidity can go from 25-50% the first 18 days and no problems. Temp can't vary more than a degree, in general.

 

[chicks rule]

Any of you that use the water wiggler in an LG bator, Where do you place it with the turner in there???

 

[chicks rule]

Cyn, Tell me what you think, plz

This is what I have in the bator and the readings,

therm/hygro w/probe in water wiggler = 100.9/63%
therm/hygro no probe= 99/45%
reg therm= 96

What are my chances? Are these temps ok or should I do some adjusting?

 

[speckledhen]

Bobbie, sounds like the temps need to be a little higher. They need to be 101.5-102.5 in a still air, I believe. I know the adjuster thing is very sensitive in the LG. BTW, I didn't answer your question about the wiggler because, as you know, my turner is a bit different from yours and my weasel/wiggler sits on top just fine.
Is the unit that says 63% humidity inside the bator OR just its probe in the wiggler and the unit sitting OUTSIDE the bator? The reason I ask is that the 45% is perfect humidity, but over 60% is too high for this stage of incubation. If the unit is in your room, then it's reading the room humidity, not bator humidity.

 

[chicks rule]

everything is inside the bator, The higher humidity is the one with the probe in the wiggler. I pulled one plug out and it is at 61% now, adjusted the temp just a bit and will check again in the morning. Had the kids till nine and noone took a nap today, I am beat.

I see what I have in the morning and let you know. And I laid my wiggler across the rows kind of like you have yours, turning is still working so I got that one covered, lol

 

[speckledhen]

Ok, hmm, if that one is the AcuRite with a probe, I find them to be pretty good on humidity. One of mine is dead-on and the other one reads too low. Better low humidity the first 18 days than way too high, I think. I bet you are tired! I have to go to bed soon myself. Let me know in the morning how it goes.

 

[chicks rule]

Good Morning, temps this morning are:

thermo/hygro probe in wiggler - 103.1/56%
thermo/hygro no probe - 101/36%
therm supplied w/bator - 98