IA here

[Tiramisu]

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well if you are going to move the thermometer on the eggs when you put them in, it will show it's hotter in there. So I would try to get it down 2 degrees at least.

 

[pbjmaker]

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I wouldn't even trust the themometer that came with it - my friend was using it for her school hatches the last few years and I loaned her a digital one this year and it showed hers was off by 3 degrees (low). She had in the past late/cruddy hatches.

They have a little white themometer that also shows humidity at Wal-mart for around $6.

 

[pbjmaker]

Hey TRISH! What's up? Long time no hear from you?

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Or set something in that is the same height as the eggs to set the thermometer on, read the temp and adjust accordingly. 100F is fine.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

When I used my still air I had to keep it about 100.5 to get my best hatches. Now I only use it for the final 3-4 days to hatch out in. The best advice given to me was to get a digital thermomter at Walmart that reads temp down to tenths of a degree. Place it so you can check temp with opening it. That helped my hatches improve from then on.

 

[pbjmaker]

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That's what I use - I have several laying around. They are located back where they keep the outdoor themometers.

 

[harleyjo]

Well I set the eggs and now I am waiting to get it back up to temp. I realize I could have a poor hatch until I get the hang of this. I also know that this isn't the best option for incubators. I am just thrilled to have something to work with. So here I go!

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Picture of young pair of Columbian cochins. Have about 30 on the ground now and another 40 in the incubator.

 

[harleyjo]

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Beautiful birds! Question about the incubator too.... should I cut the bottoms out of egg cartons to set them in? I don't have an automatic turner yet. So my options are turning them on the wire tray they are on or put them in egg cartons and use blocks of wood to prop and unprop. I told you all I was going to need some hand holding. I just need to better understand the turning part of this for now.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Quote:
Beautiful birds! Question about the incubator too.... should I cut the bottoms out of egg cartons to set them in? I don't have an automatic turner yet. So my options are turning them on the wire tray they are on or put them in egg cartons and use blocks of wood to prop and unprop. I told you all I was going to need some hand holding. I just need to better understand the turning part of this for now.

Those birds are not 2 months old yet so have a lot of developing to do yet. Either way will work well. I suggest you do what you are comfortable with. I used to lay them on the wire and turn 2-5 times daily as my schedule allowed which seems most natural. Now I use the autoturner and have just as good of hatches as before. Just remember that at 18 days(for chickens) you quit turning them and lay them on the wire to hatch out. I candle eggs at about 4 days. I use a bright flashlight to candle in a very dark basement. Good Luck.