Just making sure I've got all this correct......

[gladahmae]

First timer here!
I'm firing up my incubator (hova genesis, with auto turner) today to see if I can get it regulated for some eggs arriving later this week, and want to make sure I've got all the steps correct. I've put things I'm unsure of in bold, and a few additional questions at the end.

1-2 days before eggs arrive, turn on the incubator, and get the temp dialed in at 99.5
should i put my thermometer/hygrometer on top of one of the egg truners so it's at thesame approx height as the eggs? and should I locate it near the middle of the edges of the incubator?
Add water to the MIDDLE section of the liner and get humidity to 35% ?
Plug one of the two holes in the incubator lid

When eggs arrive, inspect them and discard any that are broken or cracked.
Place remaining eggs in the turner, pointy end down? and plug the turner in (obviously in the incubator)
Maintain appropriate temp and humidity until day 18. (how often do you think I'd need to add more water?)
candle for development, and discard all undeveloped eggs on day 18?
On day 18, remove the eggs from the turner, put shelf liner on the wire mesh?
Take an egg carton with the bottoms of the forms cut out, and place the eggs pointy end down (so the egg is straight up and down?)
Add water to the second section in the incubator, increasing humidity to 65%?
Remove plug from hole in the lid of the incubator?
Do not disturb eggs until they've hatched.


What's the deal with 'shrink wrapping' chicks. I understand that it has to do with a sudden drop in humidity when opening the incubator, but how do you avoid it if you have chicks hatching early, or over the course of more than 24hrs? Do I need to have a dish for drinking water in there, or is the yolk also acceptable as a hydration source?

 

[cochins1088]

Ok first, you need to take the temparture at the top of the eggs. I always take a few eggs from the refriderator that I know won't develope and place them in the incubator temporarily so yo can get an accurate reading. Just take them out when you put the good eggs in. I usually place the thermometer between the middle and one edge, but I don't believe it matters as long as one spot is not getting hotter than another.

I usually aim for 40 - 45% humidity and I also just fill the middle liner, if you are getting 35% once you fill it, then that is porbably close enough.

Yes, put them in the turner pointy end down. Also if they are being shipped then let them settle for a day before you put them in and watch for loose air sacs.

I only need to add water probably 4 times throughout incubation , just keep an eye on it.

I usually start candling just a few eggs by day 4 becaue it's just so neat, and I continue looking at like 2 eggs every night watching them develope. But I would say to candle all eggs on day 10 to remove infertile eggs, infertile eggs should be obvious at that point and then I would candle all eggs again on day 18 to remove quitters and stinkers before lock down.

I've never heard of a shelf liner, I put them on the wire mesh. I also take empty toilet paper rolls and cut them it to a bunch of little rings to set the eggs in so that they don't roll around and crash into each other so badly and they are horizontal. I know others that use the egg cartons and they say vertical with the pointy end down.

Yes, for the last three days, increase your humidity to 65% and remove the plug.

I open it twice daily to remove dry chicks an have never had a shink wrapped chick, but if you do, just dappen the membrne and carefully help once he is 100% ready to come out. If you are taking dry ones out at least once a day, then they don't need a water dish and that would only raise your humidity, posibly too much.

Good Luck!

 

[gladahmae]

Thank you!!!!