How long can I wait before putting them in the incubator

[WallyG74]

You’re going nuts for no reason. I have that exact incubator. I’ve had 85% hatch rates using it. Sometimes a little lower. Every egg isn’t going to hatch. You need to chill out.

 

[NatJ]

I’m going to a horse show in two weeks… and I won’t be here one night and morning… I can try to ask someone to turn them, but the chickens are ‘my’ thing and idk what people will do, Also when I flip them, do I just roll them over? And if I have to use auto turner they go pointy side up right?

If you use the turner, being gone for the horse show will not be a problem.

If you hand-turn, just leave them unturned. Turning is more important early in incubation, and less important late in incubation. Since they should be almost two weeks along by then, I think it will be safer to leave them unturned than to risk someone being clumsy and breaking the eggs, or not closing the incubator properly, or decideding to "help" by changing something. And if the person would forget, it's easier to not expect anything in the first place.

 

[picklestheduck]

So the eggs are in. I added a tiny bit of water since the humidity dropped to low thirties. It now is up to 60%. How do I lower it if I need to?

 

[WallyG74]

So the eggs are in. I added a tiny bit of water since the humidity dropped to low thirties. It now is up to 60%. How do I lower it if I need to?

Open all the vent holes.

 

[NatJ]

I added a tiny bit of water since the humidity dropped to low thirties. It now is up to 60%. How do I lower it if I need to?

To lower the humidity:
--open all the vent holes (if they weren't already)
--be patient until the current water evaporates, and then do not add more
--remove the water (like soak it up with a dry cloth)

For humidity, the amount of surface area is what matters. If the area with water is the same size, it should give the same humidity, no matter how deep it is. But making the water deeper means it will last longer before it all evaporates.

For incubating eggs, it's no big deal if the humidity fluctuates up and down a bit. They need to lose the right amount of moisture between now and hatching, but it's not really a problem if it's extra-moist today and extra-dry tomorrow or yesterday, so long as the total comes out right by the end. Weighing the eggs at setting and then every week or so, or checking the size of the air cell, are two ways to measure actual moisture loss. If they lose the right amount of moisture at the right rate, then the humidity is fine, no matter what the gauge says.

(Chicks do need it humid while they are actually hatching, so the previous paragraph only applies before lockdown.)

 

[picklestheduck]

To lower the humidity:
--open all the vent holes (if they weren't already)
--be patient until the current water evaporates, and then do not add more
--remove the water (like soak it up with a dry cloth)

For humidity, the amount of surface area is what matters. If the area with water is the same size, it should give the same humidity, no matter how deep it is. But making the water deeper means it will last longer before it all evaporates.

For incubating eggs, it's no big deal if the humidity fluctuates up and down a bit. They need to lose the right amount of moisture between now and hatching, but it's not really a problem if it's extra-moist today and extra-dry tomorrow or yesterday, so long as the total comes out right by the end. Weighing the eggs at setting and then every week or so, or checking the size of the air cell, are two ways to measure actual moisture loss. If they lose the right amount of moisture at the right rate, then the humidity is fine, no matter what the gauge says.

(Chicks do need it humid while they are actually hatching, so the previous paragraph only applies before lockdown.)

Awesome thank you! One thing that is concerning me, which I was originally concerned about, is that the middle of the incubator is reading 99.7 degrees Fahrenheit, while the edges read 95

 

[NatJ]

Awesome thank you! One thing that is concerning me, which I was originally concerned about, is that the middle of the incubator is reading 99.7 degrees Fahrenheit, while the edges read 95

Do you have enough eggs to fill the whole incubator?
If not, the easiest solution is to just put the eggs in the part that has the correct temperature.

 

[picklestheduck]

Do you have enough eggs to fill the whole incubator?
If not, the easiest solution is to just put the eggs in the part that has the correct temperature.

No They don’t fill the incubator, but the edges where some of them sit is still cooler. I have them in the center as much as possible. What can I do?

 

[NatJ]

No They don’t fill the incubator, but the edges where some of them sit is still cooler. I have them in the center as much as possible. What can I do?

I would just hope for the best this time, and see how it goes.

The cooler ones might hatch later than the others, or you might re-arrange them regularly so they all have exposure to all temperatures, so they develop at about the same overall rate.

Since they are shipped eggs, you are likely to have some that don't develop. When you discard those in a week or so, you can consolidate the rest into the best spots.

 

[picklestheduck]

I would just hope for the best this time, and see how it goes.

The cooler ones might hatch later than the others, or you might re-arrange them regularly so they all have exposure to all temperatures, so they develop at about the same overall rate.

Since they are shipped eggs, you are likely to have some that don't develop. When you discard those in a week or so, you can consolidate the rest into the best spots.

Ok awesome thank you so so much!!