Incubating Shipped Eggs for the First Time

[ValerieJ]

By the way, dry incubating means natural humidity only (aprx 25%). I can only do that on the fourth Saturday of May after a leap year if there is a full moon.

You are so brilliant! Thanks for that info!!!

 

[aliciaplus3]

Haha oh no! I better get a couple blue or green ones to hatch or I’ll be miffed!!! So 35% humidity even at high altitude?? That seems so low but I’ve read people having success with dry incubation but then also read high altitude needs high humidity so basically that’s why weighing them will be helpful for my peace of mind lol

I am at about 6000 feet in Dry Colorado so if I add zero water the chicks dry out and die having lost too much moisture. 25 to 30 is about right for Dark eggs and local eggs here. Shipped eggs(especially if they came from lower elevation) may need higher humidity, that's why your plan to weigh(I marked air cells) makes good sense. Allow the eggs to tell you what they need.

in case you decide to trace sir cells this chart I found on google will help.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

I am at about 6000 feet in Dry Colorado so if I add zero water the chicks dry out and die having lost too much moisture. 25 to 30 is about right for Dark eggs and local eggs here. Shipped eggs(especially if they came from lower elevation) may need higher humidity, that's why your plan to weigh(I marked air cells) makes good sense. Allow the eggs to tell you what they need. View attachment 1998661 in case you decide to trace sir cells this chart I found on google will help.

This chart is perfect! Thank you! I’m in Colorado too. Half of the eggs are coming from 1200 ft and the other half from 2200 ft so both definitely lower than me. Maybe I’ll start at 40% humidity and go from there. Thoughts?

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

While I have all of your attention I have a question, is this black plug thingy the vent hole on the incuview? The directions say nothing about vents. Ignore the fact that it’s still wrapped in plastic.

 

[floppysquirrel04]

It’s for ventilation. I don’t have that bator, but I think you’re supposed to leave it open. If you look up your incubator model or similar ones in the search bar, there may also be other threads about the best way to use it, which might not necessarily match the instructions anyway .

 

[floppysquirrel04]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-eggs-just-21-days-from-egg-to-chicken.47696/

Have you read this? It also has good links to similar articles.

 

[007Sean]

View attachment 1998674 While I have all of your attention I have a question, is this black plug thingy the vent hole on the incuview? The directions say nothing about vents. Ignore the fact that it’s still wrapped in plastic.

I believe @aart has one?

 

[aart]

It is odd that there's is only one vent, but most folks have good hatches with the Incuview.
ETA: Disclaimer, have never hatched shipped egg...but have had some 'floating' air cells that were not helped by the lying down position of the Incuview.

I believe @aart has one?

Yup, I just left that plug out most the time, but did partially cover it with a wet sponge when ambient humidity was very low.
Think that's shown in my Incuview hacks article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incuview-divider-pattern-and-other-hacks-by-aart.73966/

I learned a lot in this thread, but it's really long:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incuview-incubator.852619/

Not sure if you've searched for Incuview info, but.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/87117360/?q=incuview&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

One brave guy added an extra vent/hole:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incuview-incubator-modified.74766/

 

[jolenesdad]

I think 55 is too high for humidity.

either way you should be good weighing them. I’d probably start closer to 40 and weigh at 3-4 days.

remember to take an average of several eggs, and don’t rely on weights of just one or two eggs, and don’t get freaked out by weights of individual eggs. Weighing is always about the average of the batch. You’ll go crazy if you start to look at each eggs weight to try and make your adjustments.
Good luck!!!!

 

[floppysquirrel04]

55 is not too high, depending on where you live. If it’s like that throughout lockdown, it will get too high from the eggs opening, but for incubation it usually works best for most people.