Incubating eggs for First time

[Daledale1990]

I dont think u did anything wrong I think the eggs just r
A to old
B wherent fertile
C they where damaged during shipping
That's my guess

Oh ok thanks, do you know where I could order some? I haven’t got anything to test the humidity, I only have a small incubator, I put about 15 water in every couple days,

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Im sorry to say that it's possible everything was wrong. Those mini incubators are notoriously inaccurate with their temperature readings. Unless you tested it against another calibrated thermometer, it is highly unlikely it is accurate I'm afraid. They are also bad at maintaining temperature at the same reading over time, and keeping it even throughout the entire space of the incubator (which results in hot and cold spots).

Also, shipped eggs are very often damaged in transit. If you candle them when they arrive you can check the condition of the air sac in the round end of the egg. More often than not air sacs will be wonky, or free moving inside the egg, or worse split into multiple bubbles. I have had zero luck hatching eggs with free moving air bubbles.
Sometimes the egg contents are even scrambled. And sometimes they aren't fertile, or they are just too old when sent.

 

[Daledale1990]

Im sorry to say that it's possible everything was wrong. Those mini incubators are notoriously inaccurate with their temperature readings. Unless you tested it against another calibrated thermometer, it is highly unlikely it is accurate I'm afraid. They are also bad at maintaining temperature at the same reading over time, and keeping it even throughout the entire space of the incubator (which results in hot and cold spots).

Also, shipped eggs are very often damaged in transit. If you candle them when they arrive you can check the condition of the air sac in the round end of the egg. More often than not air sacs will be wonky, or free moving inside the egg, or worse split into multiple bubbles. I have had zero luck hatching eggs with free moving air bubbles.
Sometimes the egg contents are even scrambled. And sometimes they aren't fertile, or they are just too old when sent.

Yeah I think your probably right, I just wanted a small cheap incubator to start with probably not the best one, do you know where I could get a decent one but not to expensive? Thanks for your reply

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I got the exact same incubator myself with the same thoughts but it just wasn't worth it. I ended up getting a Janoel 10, second hand on ebay, for about twice the cost of the mini incubator which has proven quite good.

To have any kind of success with your current incubator you will have to get a second thermometer and calibrate it. A water submersible food thermometer is good and you can get one very cheap online, but it has to be a small one that will fit in your incubator.

Once you know the thermometer is accurate by testing it in boiling water or ice and salt, leave it in your empty incubator for a couple of hours and check the reading against the bator. If the bator says 38 and the second thermometer says 36.5, you know that your bator is down by 1.5 degrees and can adjust accordingly (by setting it to 39.5).

I would also recommend getting a hygrometer. Where are you located? I'm in the UK where relative humidity is usually fairly high. I therefore usually do not add any water for the first 18 days then fill both chambers in the bator for lockdown.

Finally, ebay eggs can be a pain. Ive learned to only buy from reputable sellers with good feedback - and I request them to post all eggs round end up toward the postage label on the box. I candle on arrival and dispose of any with loose air sacs or cracks (rare). Then I leave the remaining eggs to settle for 1-2 days before incubationg. This way I have quite good results.

 

[Pekin747]

Oh ok thanks, do you know where I could order some? I haven’t got anything to test the humidity, I only have a small incubator, I put about 15 water in every couple days,

Where do u live cause I dont live in the US
I'd try a briense mini they are one of the best incubator manufacturers there is
And If u dont get an incubator that tells u the humity id definitely get the stick that tells u I use one still every now and again even to be sure

 

[Daledale1990]

I got the exact same incubator myself with the same thoughts but it just wasn't worth it. I ended up getting a Janoel 10, second hand on ebay, for about twice the cost of the mini incubator which has proven quite good.

To have any kind of success with your current incubator you will have to get a second thermometer and calibrate it. A water submersible food thermometer is good and you can get one very cheap online, but it has to be a small one that will fit in your incubator.

Once you know the thermometer is accurate by testing it in boiling water or ice and salt, leave it in your empty incubator for a couple of hours and check the reading against the bator. If the bator says 38 and the second thermometer says 36.5, you know that your bator is down by 1.5 degrees and can adjust accordingly (by setting it to 39.5).

I would also recommend getting a hygrometer. Where are you located? I'm in the UK where relative humidity is usually fairly high. I therefore usually do not add any water for the first 18 days then fill both chambers in the bator for lockdown.

Finally, ebay eggs can be a pain. Ive learned to only buy from reputable sellers with good feedback - and I request them to post all eggs round end up toward the postage label on the box. I candle on arrival and dispose of any with loose air sacs or cracks (rare). Then I leave the remaining eggs to settle for 1-2 days before incubationg. This way I have quite good results.

Thanks for you reply, I think I should of went for one you’ve said about, I’m in south uk too, I’ve ordered a thermometer to test the temperature but think going to order a new incubator that controls the humidity and temperature correctly

 

[Pekin747]

Thanks for you reply, I think I should of went for one you’ve said about, I’m in south uk too, I’ve ordered a thermometer to test the temperature but think going to order a new incubator that controls the humidity and temperature correctly

Even with an incubator that can control the temp and humidity it's always best to have one on hand caus ei never know what could happen that u might need to use one