How long can I wait before putting them in the incubator

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Is it super super concerning for it to go up and down a bit? I don’t really have another good spot for it. I forgot to put a towel under it so I can do that now. Should I put a small towel over it too? Or not?

Do not put a towel on top, there are air holes that need fresh air circulation.
It might not be too bad if it goes up and down a little. If it stays too hot, they could hatch early, if it stays too cold, they could take longer. If they hatch several days before or after 21 days, then there can be defects.

 

[picklestheduck]

Ok. I’m running the incubator overnight to make sure the temp seems to stay the same… I’m going off what the incubator says… since the hygrometers are being calibrated. But the fan won’t be here till tomorrow… will that be an issue? I know you are supposed to have it all set up for 24 hours to be sure it all stays the same, but would like a few hours like 2-4 be ok? Also do I need to put the water in now? Which container is best do you think? Wait if I need to leave the auto turner in like if I won’t be here for one day, where do I put the water? In the troughs? Or should I absolutely try my hardest to not use it? 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? I’m sorry I’m so worried I don’t know enough

 

[picklestheduck]

Wait.. if I leave the auto turner… could o still get a fan in there? I don’t think so shoot. I’m sorry this is crazy. Everything seems to be going wrong. Blew a hydraulic line on the tractor today, my horse came up with a swollen leg, and constant issues with cars and now houses

 

[The Moonshiner]

Why are you doing all this extra stuff?
I wouldn't put towels under or over it. What's the purpose? Like said there's vents on top and there's also vents on the bottom. You don't want to interfere with the air flow.
I wouldn't add another fan either. Too much air flow isn't good either. The fan included is positioned to utilize the air flow in and out of the vent holes. Just throwing a fan inside would throw that off.
I don't understand where the info is coming from that the provided fan isn't enough. I've hatch a lot of eggs in a similar incubator without a fan at all.
The using the turner is up to you. I've also got a bit higher hatch rates hand turning. But I always use turners now because the difference wasn't significant enough for me for the extra labor involved.
I doubt the extra day of delay in setting would matter. Depends on how old the eggs already are. Yes a 3 week old egg can hatch but the odds aren't good. The fresher the better and after 7 days the chances really start dropping. Idk. Collecting then shipping and now setting around may be pushing their age.
I wouldn't turn them before putting them in. Shipped eggs should set pointed side down and rest to settle from shipping.
I just don't get all the changes you want to make.
The fluctuations in your house temps may or may not be a big deal. Depends how much the fluctuate. Where my eggs set there's no control over the house temps and with my incubator and the Hovabators I use as hatchers I don't have much issue unless temps get super high.
When I tried another brand of styrofoam incubator it had a very detrimental effect.

 

[picklestheduck]

Why are you doing all this extra stuff?
I wouldn't put towels under or over it. What's the purpose? Like said there's vents on top and there's also vents on the bottom. You don't want to interfere with the air flow.
I wouldn't add another fan either. Too much air flow isn't good either. The fan included is positioned to utilize the air flow in and out of the vent holes. Just throwing a fan inside would throw that off.
I don't understand where the info is coming from that the provided fan isn't enough. I've hatch a lot of eggs in a similar incubator without a fan at all.
The using the turner is up to you. I've also got a bit higher hatch rates hand turning. But I always use turners now because the difference wasn't significant enough for me for the extra labor involved.
I doubt the extra day of delay in setting would matter. Depends on how old the eggs already are. Yes a 3 week old egg can hatch but the odds aren't good. The fresher the better and after 7 days the chances really start dropping. Idk. Collecting then shipping and now setting around may be pushing their age.
I wouldn't turn them before putting them in. Shipped eggs should set pointed side down and rest to settle from shipping.
I just don't get all the changes you want to make.
The fluctuations in your house temps may or may not be a big deal. Depends how much the fluctuate. Where my eggs set there's no control over the house temps and with my incubator and the Hovabators I use as hatchers I don't have much issue unless temps get super high.
When I tried another brand of styrofoam incubator it had a very detrimental effect.

This particular incubator has not that great of reviews, but it’s all I have, and I know some people have gotten low hatch rates. I’ve read in a few places that I can modify them, to increase the hatch rate. The towel underneath I’ve heard helps keep the temp from the shelf from messing with the incubator temp. I know the airflow in them in lots of reviews isn’t enough and the eggs in the edges get too chilled. If I were to leave it as is, should I put them in now? Or wait for 24 hours?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

If you want to use your turner I'd skip the fan, it won't really fit anyway.
Just make sure you use your extra thermometers. If there are hot and cold spots you may just want to move the eggs around each day to a new position.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Always pointy side down.

 

[The Moonshiner]

From your earlier post. If you use the turner pointed side down.
Hand turning you can place your hand on top and gently roll them or if you're careful lift them, rotate and place them back down.
Really it's not rocket science. You just need them rotated.
Hand turning or auto turning you can move the eggs around so sometimes they're towards the outside and other times towards the middle.
I still don't get the towel. I don't see the shelf radiating temps into the incubator being more of an issue as impeding the air flow would.
Use the built in water reservoirs. How many need water if any will depend on your situation. You'll need to monitor the humidity and adjust.
Mostly you need to relax.

 

[picklestheduck]

Ok. Wait… pointy side down in the turner?

From your earlier post. If you use the turner pointed side down.
Hand turning you can place your hand on top and gently roll them or if you're careful lift them, rotate and place them back down.
Really it's not rocket science. You just need them rotated.
Hand turning or auto turning you can move the eggs around so sometimes they're towards the outside and other times towards the middle.
I still don't get the towel. I don't see the shelf radiating temps into the incubator being more of an issue as impeding the air flow would.
Use the built in water reservoirs. How many need water if any will depend on your situation. You'll need to monitor the humidity and adjust.
Mostly you need to relax.

Ok. Yeah. Thanks so much! without any water in there it’s reading 39% humidity. Another quick question, I’d like to add another hygrometer or two in there. How do I do that with the turner in there?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Ok. Wait… pointy side down in the turner?

Ok. Yeah. Thanks so much! without any water in there it’s reading 39% humidity. Another quick question, I’d like to add another hygrometer or two in there. How do I do that with the turner in there?

Yes pointed side down in turner.
Idk. Just make sure they're not in the way or will get in the way when it moves.
I'd leave it dry or maybe add water to one channel if it drops much lower.
Honestly I don't put so much worry into incubating but I've done it a few times.
Waiting just to hear if anyone else wants to chime in that's a worry wart. Could be educational.