Incubator Temperature Problems ! ! (Reptipro)

[loveourbirds]

I think that fan I mentioned will help a lot. they may have one slower but if you put it pointing up it shouldn't matter. just so you know all incubators have some temperature difference. you are right though, yours is alittle to much.

one thing to remember a hen doesn't have a thermostat, the temp will fluctuate a little. maybe when you turn your eggs, move them from shelf to shelf and see what happens?

 

[RedneckG1rl]

I am wondering though , will the low temperature on the bottom affect the eggs ? They are on day 19 now . They had been staying up top on the self until yesterday and now I have a new batch up top where they were. I have a few more slots for shelves but I can't find the shelves for my incubator , I don't think they sell them separately so I will have to make a few. I was hoping that with them being in the right temperature this whole time that they would be ok in the 95 degree heat. I know it's a little low but I have read that they also retain heat as they get bigger. Oh , and right now the temperature at the bottom has raised to 97 , so that is a little better and I think I have seen about 4 moving late last night . I sat there and just watched and watched. My husband and our friend were enjoying making fun of me just sitting there ..waiting ....waiting ...then would laugh at me when I would get all excited cause one moved haha.....I am waiting to start hearing them peep but haven't yet I haven't seen the others move but I only have 11 in there . I would be happy with half of them hatching ! My eggs aren't shipped, I get them from my own hen , so I hope that helps with the hatching rate. I have been reading about shipped eggs and I thought about doing it to hatch out some turkeys but it looks like shipping eggs have a higher fail rate. I also had a hard time candling and from being able to really see anything? I hope I don't have an egg to explode ! I have barred rock chickens and their eggs are brown and it makes it difficult for me to see anything . Just crossing my fingers and hoping all is well with the eggs. I did notice the humidity is about 72% right now , is that going to be to high and going to drown the chicks ?

 

[loveourbirds]

the humidity is a little high, if you can lower it. I have seen chicks hatch at 95 degrees with no problems, but it might delay the hatch a little.

shipped eggs do tend to have a lower hatch rate.

the best thing I have found for candleing is a flashlight that autozone sells. it says "police tactical" on the side and they cost about $2.50. if you cant find that one, the 9 led flashlights that use 3 -AAA cells work pretty well too.

 

[RedneckG1rl]

I got the humidity down to about 67% . So far nothing , and now only one of the eggs is moving. I hope the others I seen wobbling around are just resting ! I would have never thought hatching eggs would be so freaking stressful ! I will look into those flashlights ! Thanks for all the help !

 

[loveourbirds]

you said this is your first time hatching chicks, are you new to farming too? just asking so I know what challenges to help you overcome.

 

[RedneckG1rl]

Not really , just the whole hatching thing with chicks. I have raised chicks before that I have gotten from like TSC and farmers markets . I was trying to get my hen to sit on them and hatch them out herself but she just won't do it . I have been told that my breed of chicken isn't really big on brooding . I have other animals as well horses , goats and I breed rabbits and pigs to . I am pretty confident that once they finally get here they will be ok . I have their brooder box set up already and once they start emerging I plan on getting it heated up .

 

[GeorgRodway]

Is your incubator fan assisted ?

 

[RedneckG1rl]

Ummm I don't really know . I know I hear something go off and on . I bought it used and it didn't come with a box or anything

 

[loveourbirds]

im pretty sure all reptipro incubators are fan assisted, but not 100% certain. but the fan should run all the time and not kick on and off. the one i looked at was either a 600 or 6000. it did have a fan assist in the back on the bottom.

 

[loveourbirds]

you'll get the hang of hatching, it might take you a couple of tries. from what your saying about the eggs and the number of days i do believe you will have something hatch. if you don't, i would blame it more on the incubator than the operator.