It's offical I am the worst Hatcher

[shawnkfl]

i'm using an LG still air. i turned twice daily by hand. humidity ran 30%-40% than i raised it to ~60% at the end. i kept the temp around 102* (as best as i could with an LG) had a few temp spikes up and down during incubation. i ended up with three chicks the first time and 9 the second (out of a dozen each) the first batch were from ebay, and most were either not fertile or scrambled in shipping. the LG is ok if you like fiddling with something. i hate the the temp does not stay set no matter what you do. it works in a pinch though.

 

[k2chickens]

i turn 5 times a day by hand in my LG Circulated air bator. Is that too many times?? I was told the more the better and that 3 times was the very least i should do. My temp stays 99.5 to 101

 

[Calebs Acre]

asylum:

If you have a fan, 101 is a bit high, you're better off being slightly lower and spiking to 100.5. A lower temp, like 99, will just make your eggs hatch later, but a temp too high will cook the eggs. Err on the slightly lower side.

Three is the minimum. The reason given for turning an odd number of times is so the egg rests for the night/longest period of non-turning on the opposite side each night. If you have an automatic turner, the eggs will be turned more than five times a day, so you're just fine at 5, as a matter of fact, you are probably even better at 5 times, from what I've learned. I have turners, so I have never studied the results for different turning amounts.

Oh, if you haven't adjusted your temperature on the incubator much in the past, I would try not to do it during a hatch since you might really shock those eggs! 101 is probably not TOO high, but I'd adjust it for your next hatch to try to do 99-100.5, in my opinion.

Good luck!

 

[the Old Rebel]

So 3 Chickens, how goes it??

I sooooooo hope you haven't opened your eggs already. I ALWAYS let my eggs go at least 5 days past due date. Have had a LOT of late hatches that turned out to be perfectly healthy birds.

I have ALWAYS kept my LG incubator with fan at 99.5 and had GREAT hatches except with quail eggs. In my experience, even half a degree can make a BIG difference. To me, 101, 102, or 103 is too high.

I don't measure humidity, but keep water in the troughs at all times. If it is really humid outside, I only put water in one trough. If it is dry, I put some in all of them. Not too scientific, I know, but it works for me.

If anyone hatches Muscovy duck eggs that lives in Alabama, maybe you can help Goat_Walker. He's looking for some muscovy ducks.

Good luck to all of you.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Nope I havent opened yet I figure tomorrow night is a good time

I dont really want to see a dead chick but I figure if I dont open it I will never know what I am doing wrong

 

[speckledhen]

Folks, let's be kind and tactful with our words. So many folks are trying different methods. So what if they don't have success with one try? They'll do something different the next time. Me personally, I will never let eggs go five days after the due date because it rarely ends well. And a late hatching pattern can be set up that way, by allowing late hatchers to reproduce, according to Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. Some won't let go till the bitter end and that's their prerogative, just not for me. So, please be kind to others. There is a definite learning curve to incubating.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
I agree with being kind and tackful with words & I don't mind saying that yours is a perfect example of stating what you believe, what works for you & even the reasoning behind your methods in a straight forward way with respect.... Then it's received as someone trying to give their advice & expertise & that's a learning opportunity.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
I agree with the temperature settings. Everything I've ever read says to keep eggs between 99.5-100.5F So that's where I always keep mine. When it comes to turning I also agree & I turn my eggs 3 times a day while they're waiting to go into the bator too.... Once the eggs are in the bator I have the auto turner now & I love it! And I do let my eggs go over the date too because of the lower temp setting mostly but I'm not sure I'd go 5 days. I guess it would depend on if I hear something or the egg is moving etc. But I wouldn't toss them on day 21 or even day 22. day 23 is usually my end spot where I'll pull a plug.

 

[Bantum Red]

It sound like the heat is to low. If you kept the thermometer that came with the incubator throw it away and go buy you a new one. I found that a fish tank therm or a candy therm works great. See, if that helps. Also check the temp of your incubator, the kids turned mine down. The chicks were very late and I ended up with only one chick. The incubator was 8 degrees off. The membrane was tough, the eggs rolled but did not pip.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
No the dispute was not about the differences in still air vs. forced air. The advice given on the temps was just an example I was using really. I won't rehash the dispute except to say that I'd just mean not any one person has all the answers that are right for all of us 24/7 &/or we don't know it all..... On the temps themselves I don't know about the other bators just the two I have & both are still air. The directions they came with had the same chart as what I'd pointed out & said 99.5 for chicken eggs etc. I believe at 102F we're baking the eggs. I know there are differences between the still air & the fan bators but I also know what the booklet said here at home & then when I'd looked it up.I follow the instructions taking the temp at the top of the eggs & then coordinate it with the hygrometer/thermometer until I've got a steady for at least 24 hours & then I'll set the eggs. I use the temps given by the manufacturer and by Goffle Road Poultry which is a poultry store.