Moving during incubation

[beetandsteet]

If the incubators have fans, leave one in and one out. I usually use the vent plugs to regulate small swings in temperature/humidity. As far as analog thermometers go, I would suggest buying 2 of these, then calibrating them http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aquaculture-Glass-Aquarium-Thermometer/45081765

They both have red vent plugs- one set of direction says nothing about them and to just leave them til hatch, the other set says to start out incubation with one out and only plug it in if you need more humidity desperately. Then it says to pull the second one 3 days prior to hatch to give them more fresh air?! Which directions do I listen to?

 

[beetandsteet]

Oh, and also, since you have the styro-bators (little giant 9300 or farm innovators) its very important to make sure the incubator is up and running, and holding stable temps before adding eggs. Here's a great article on using the foam bators: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubation-cheat-sheet

 

[Goatmama123]

I bought one of each brand to see which one I liked better. I will have my husband pick some aquarium thermometers tonight. Their humidity is at about 45% without water so I am highly considering running it dry.

 

[Goatmama123]

I like that link- but she says that on day 19 she adds paper towels and water to increase humity...I thought they were on lockdown at this point and you dont open it at all

 

[beetandsteet]

Dry incubation is great. I just recently finished up a successful incubation using the dry method. I use the little giant incubator and have had pretty good success overall. It's important to keep it in a room that does not have a whole lot of temp fluctuations.
The lady that wrote that article is NOT a "hands-off" hatcher---she will even admit that. (read the thread "he said/she said--who's right who's wrong? No one!) I like to not touch my eggs after day 18 at all, but in the end, it is a matter of personal preference. She keeps her hatching humidity high (75%+) so that she won't hurt the peeps by opening the incubator too much. I keep my hatching humidity in the 60s, and do not open the incubator at all until most have hatched.

 

[Goatmama123]

If I have an egg turner do I just unplug that the last 3days and let them sit there? or do I remove the egg turner and let rest in an egg carton? It seems like the height difference would be substantial...like she warns about

 

[beetandsteet]

Height difference does not matter in an incubator with a fan--the fan distributes the warm air throughout the incubator. In a still air, yes it would definitely matter---didn't you say your incubators had fans in them?

 

[Goatmama123]

Yes it has circulating ait however... I bought aquarium thermometers and calibrated them and one side seems a few degrees hotter even with the fan... Should I just put the eggs in the middle? I thought circulating air was too get rid of hot spots... is it better to have them slightly too hot or slightly too cold.

 

[Goatmama123]

It is showing 96 on one size 100 on other.