Hovabator 1588. First time incubating!

[Ashspd50]

I'm sorry if this is redundan. I'm getting overwhelmed with results when I search the forum however. I just bought a used (bought in April and used twice) Hovabator 1588. I also bought 3 dozen eggs (probably not the brightest move for my first time using an incubator) that I should be picking up on Friday. I have done some reading on incubating eggs, but there is so much out there and it seems different people have different methods. Can anyone help me with a step by step on what the heck I am supposed to do? I bring the eggs home and then what? I'm starting to think I may have bit off more than I can chew.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I'm sorry if this is redundan. I'm getting overwhelmed with results when I search the forum however. I just bought a used (bought in April and used twice) Hovabator 1588. I also bought 3 dozen eggs (probably not the brightest move for my first time using an incubator) that I should be picking up on Friday. I have done some reading on incubating eggs, but there is so much out there and it seems different people have different methods. Can anyone help me with a step by step on what the heck I am supposed to do? I bring the eggs home and then what? I'm starting to think I may have bit off more than I can chew.

Hi!! Welcome to hatching!! You'll do great and you bought a decent bator, so you have a good chance of getting lots of fluff butts. And you are aking for help, which is awesome cause you'll get a lot of opinions here and probably more confusing...lol I'll do my best to help and you can also feel free to pm me. I am usually on and off here all day.

Ok, so have you set the incubator up and got it running yet? You want to do at least a couple days before you set so you can adjust and make sure it's going to hold a steady temp. You also want to check your thermometers and hygrometer to make sure it's accurate. I use at least 2 in my bator to check against each other. While the hovabator is one of the better styro bators, you want to check the gages just to be on the safe side.

Once you have your bator running and know that it is holding a steady temp and that your thermometers are all accurate, you are ready to roll. You want your eggs to be room temp when you set them. Forced air incubators need to be 99.5 degrees F. I am assuming you are using the auto turner? Make sure you have the bigger rounded ends up-pointed ends down.

The big question is humdity and everyone will tell you something different. If you are not in a high altitiude area I strongly recommend a low humidity method for incubating, especially in styrofoam bators. I use this method for monitoring and controlling humidity and figuring out what is a good range for my eggs:http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

Another great read is the hatching 101 page here on BYC:https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
And for when you start candling I recommend this thread to compare and know what you are looking for:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

Hopefully that will at least get you started.....