It's offical I am the worst Hatcher

[R@ndy]

3chickens

What do you have your temp set on in the incubator? and where do you take the reading from?

I have 2 LG's still air one with a turner and one without that I use as a hatcher and have had very good luck, I take my temp reading from where the top of the egg would be and it runs from 100 to 102 pending on time of day, my humidity runs from 30 to 45 percent from day 1 to 18 and 19 to 21 50 percent.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

I have the 1 with the fan 100
still air 101
I got the 1 with the fans hoping for a better hatch and on 18 I move to the still air..
I am using thermometer that came with it I keep it on top off the eggs..
I am wondering how accurate my walmart one is the temp is the same but worried about humidity.. I think I am killing from 18 to 21 but I will be checking tomorrow night to be sure...

 

[countrybum]

3chickens, do you have something reading the humidity? I bought one of the hygrometers (I think that is what it is called) and it works great. I think either the humidity in the still air is to low for hatching or the temp is to high or low.

Eggs are like fine china when they get close to hatching.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
102-103F is to high I keep mine between 99.5 - 100F I've used the egg carton but instead of moving the entire bator I just lift one side of the carton with a block & then switch it later. Then I use the wells on the bottoms of the bator for humidity along with a wash cloth or sponges. I like the wash cloth & socks too because the chicks always seem to like getting on top of them after hatching & while they're waiting to get out....

I take the temp from the highest point of where the eggs are &/or on top of the eggs. I've never had a problem opening the bator to ad water the temp seems to come right back within an hour. The only eggs I've ever misted are the duck eggs I've got in the bator now.

 

[countrybum]

mom2cool, those are the only eggs I mist also and I misy mine 2xs a day. I have never heard of anyone misting chicken eggs, but I guess it is an experiment to try.

Insiderart, let us know if you try it and keep us updated on how it goes. It will be interesting to find out if it helps them or not.

 

[Calebs Acre]

Quote:
Would you like to try a few duck eggs just to see how you do? I need to knock on wood when I say this, but my ducks are very fertile and I just had a 100% hatch today with them...my shipped eggs, usually, do very well. Your humidity has to be higher with ducks, but if you PM your address, I would be happy to send you six eggs, on me, just for you to try it and see if you have better luck? You could always put the little rascals on Craig's List if you hatch them and don't want ducks and still be proud of yourself? Let me know. I could ship you Sunday AM eggs on Monday AM.
I'd use the forced air incubator with ducks.

Nancy

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
I agree with countrybum 1st you want a hygrometer & I actually had found one that came with the thermoeter that it is on the lower portion. it wasn't digital but boy it works great! When I calbrate the incubator before starting I get it in sink with another thermometer at the same time etc. I think your heat is too high you want it between 99.5-100F I'm using still air too & I take the temp from the top of the eggs. If you have eggs you think are dead but you're not sure let them in the bator a bit longer because they might just be late bloomers.... After that I would recommend lowering the temps. The splurge I made the last time to get higher hatch rates was the auto turner but really I think the egg carton worked just as well really. the last 2 batches I'd had about 1/2 a hatch rate on shipped eggs which was good & the eggs out of my back yard I'd had 100% minus the 2 that never started developing. We were roaring with laughter with the last batch of Buff Orpingtons from out hens/back yard because their were so many chicks in the bator at one time & they looked so wild they looked like kids trashing a room in a fit.

Anyway that thermometor I think can be found in any hardware store like sears or walmart. I do have a digital one too but I like to have 2 thermometors so I can have one in the brooder when they come out of the bator & again then I can compare at the start of the set up...

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:

Why are you tilting and not just rolling the eggs? How do you keep the water in when tilting? It would seem to me that you would have less humidity without the water.

As for temp, I run my still air between 101 and 102, I never want it at 103. All of my eggs hatch, unless they are shipped. Why are you running it at 103?

103 temp with a low humidity will cause the chicks to be shrink wrapped inside the shell and unable to zip the egg and get out. Just my opinion and experience.

I place my eggs in egg cartons and tilt my bator. I do not use the water rings in the bottom of the bator. I use a small container to put water in and it holds my humidity level with no problems at all. I'm getting good hatch rates....shipped eggs included.

Can I ask what kind of container you use for the water? It doesn't spill out when you raise the side of the box?

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
yes I heard (or read here) someone the other day say to spritz the membrane & I thought that sounded like a good idea to moisten the membrane.

The duck eggs cross your fingers for me this is only my 2nd time & the first I think were unfertile eggs or maybe just to mishandled in shipping. these duck eggs this time all have moving embryos...... I'm trying not to get to excited or freak out... LOL

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
Would you like to try a few duck eggs just to see how you do? I need to knock on wood when I say this, but my ducks are very fertile and I just had a 100% hatch today with them...my shipped eggs, usually, do very well. Your humidity has to be higher with ducks, but if you PM your address, I would be happy to send you six eggs, on me, just for you to try it and see if you have better luck? You could always put the little rascals on Craig's List if you hatch them and don't want ducks and still be proud of yourself? Let me know. I could ship you Sunday AM eggs on Monday AM.
I'd use the forced air incubator with ducks.

Nancy

that is very nice of you! And boy what a deal