I am confused why shouldn't I open the cover?

[mmajw]

I am a total newbie to hatching.

I am confused as to why we shouldn't open the cover of the bator after Day 18. Does a mother hen sit on her eggs from Day 18-21 (or whenever they all hatch) without moving?

When should I be opening the vents and why do I do that??

Please help the newbie hatcher?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Days 1-18 you open the vents to adjust your humdity 40-50%.
Days 18 to hatch You'll have them closed because you need to up your humidity 60-70%.

You don't want to open the bator after day 18 because your humidity and temps will drop and can compromise your hatch.

 

[mmajw]

So what happens after Day 18 when a Mother Hen goes to get a drink and leaves her eggs uncovered?

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

I can only speek for MY Silkies.

When the eggs they are sitting on start peeping and she starts talking back to them, she will not get off the nest
until the hatch is done. And I do not lift her to peek either.

 

[mmajw]

How do I check the temp and humidity then I can see the gauges through the windows eggs are in the way

 

[PurpleChicken]

Don't be tempted. I know it's hard.

I made the mistake of opening the bator on some of my early hatches.
It made hatching very hard on the chicks and impossible for some.
They need the stable temp and humidity.

We learned our lesson. I've had people report much better hatches
since they didn't open the bator.

This applies especially to the styrofoam bators that take a while to
build back up heat and temp.

As for the broody hens we really don't know what else those hens are
doing to those eggs. Plus broodies are IN CONTACT with the eggs,
not just keeping them warm. Brinsea makes a line of contact bators
that are around $3000.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Rearrange the eggs a bit so you can see the guages. We always use multiple
thermometer/hyrdrometers so we can usually see at least one.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Just noticed your vent question.

The vents are open until day 18 then closed. What bator do you have?
They all work a little different and have their quirks.

 

[mmajw]

I have a little Giant.

I guess I made a mistake by putting in more eggs a few days after these ones went in and the others are not on Day 18 yet so I cant open the cover now to turn them.

I think I really screwed up...

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I'm a newbie too and this will be my first ever try at this. I'm using button quail eggs in an old styrofoam hovabator my cousin gave me. I set it up last night (without the eggs) and right now it's at 93 degrees with 75% humidity. While typing this I just realized that I was only supposed to put water in one ring, so I just drained the other...

I turned it up, but does it take hours for the temp to go up? I'm afraid I'm not very patient and since I've never had it on before, I'm not sure how it works.

How long is normal for the temp to rise?