Humidity and egg storage question

[GBov]

I havnt got eggs yet but soon sooooooooon will and have been reading about the humidity needed to hatch em. My question is, its normal down here to have 50% or higher humidity and sometimes as high as 89%. How does back ground humidity affect eggs in an incubator? Have a hovabator - fan model with egg turner - in the mail on its way to me so want to be ready to go when it gets here.

Oh, another question, how long can I store eggs before putting them in the bator? I use to collect our chicken eggs in a kitchen drawer, turning once a day, for a week to have enough to bother with hatching. Is it the same for quail? And where do you store them before you put them on to hatch?

 

[cpbirds407]

As a general rule, as long as the eggs are properly stored, they are viable for 7 days without damage...again, that's if stored properly. However, the sooner you incubate then, the better hatchrate you will get.

As of the incubator humidity, I am not sure if they ambiance humidity would play a huge factor on the humidity inside the incubator. However, I'm pretty sure you won't have to add water as often as someone that lives in a very dry area.

I'd recommend that you let the eggs sit for at least 3-5 hours in room temperature once you get them and then put them in the incubator (speaking of quail eggs). I wouldn't wait too long from the day you get the eggs. That is just my opinion.

 

[underground chickenman]

Quote:
I don't know where "down here" is, but I am in Florida and we have similarly high humidity. A couple things to remember, though. First, I assume your incubator is indoors (I hope), and I doubt the humidity is that high inside. Second, inside the incubator, especially one with a fan, it tends to be much drier.

My indoor humidity ranges from 47% to 54%. The humidity inside my incubator, without added water can get below 25%. With one well filled it, gets close to 60% and with both wells filled, it gets to around 70%.

You should set up your incubator several days before you set eggs and test it for temp and humidity. It still won't be the same when you add eggs since the volume taken up by the eggs will change the interior conditions some, but it will be close enough to tell you if you have a problem with climate control.

UGCM

 

[GBov]

Yep, Florida

I know the snakes tank humidity reads pretty steady at 50% but it doesnt have a fan so good point about the background humidity not affecting the bator inside.

Am picking up three breeding trios for the kids this week so the plan is to collect the eggs for a week or so and then set the eggs. Thanks for the tip on running the bator for that time to be sure it hasnt any problems. It wont be a huge amount of eggs but I hope to raise them by the dinner, so to speak, so small numbers arnt a problem.

Huh, just did the math, 6 quail lay one egg per day for 7 days equals how many eggs?

Takes me right back to grade school math

Thats some dinner if they all hatch

When keeping eggs for a week before setting them in the bator, whats a good temp to store them at? The house cycles through 73 and 80 so not sure where to put them. The fridge is so darn cold but it gets pretty warm in here.............................