My first time incubating, please help!

[australorp_breeder]

I ordered an incubator from MyPetChicken that is suppose to arrive tomorrow. The incubator is a Hova-BatorThermal Air Flow. It doesn't have an automatic turner, so I'm going to have to turn the eggs by hand every day. Here is a picture of the incubator:

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Incubators/Thermal-Air-Flow-Incubator-p193.aspx

Since this is my first time and all, I have a lot of questions. If you can, I would appreciate answers. If you can't answer all of them please answer the ones you think you know, it will still be helpful

! And I would appreciate it if you could keep your answers in numbers, it's just easier to read.

1) How long will a female chicken lay fertile eggs after she is bred?

2) How long after a hen lays an egg will it still be fertile to put in an incubator?

3) Should I just leave the eggs I've collected alone, or would it bother the hatching process if I washed off the eggs first under cold water? (As if I were cleaning them to put in the fridge.)

4) How often do I have to rotate the eggs?

5) Won't the incubator lose heat every time I open it to turn the eggs?

6) Does it matter where I keep the incubator? (I can either keep it in my bathroom where the window is open and it can get kinda cool. Or I can keep it in my room where it will be room temperature.)

BONUS QUESTION

6) Some of my chicks are going to be cross-bred with an Australorp male and a Jersey Giant female. Is there any way I would get an Australorp with yellow feet or a Jersey Giant with pink/white feet? How do you think their chicks might turn out?

Any other tips/advice is appreciated! Thank you!!

 

[chicken5432]

you need to keep it away from windows and from direct sunlight
yes it will loose heat when you hand turn them but, it gains the heat back quickly i hand turn and it works wonders you have to hand turn them 3 times a day and the last 3 days you dont turn them and you dont open the bator as well
i dont wash my eggs i just take a dry towel and gently scrub it a little cleaner but dont worry if much dont come off of the eggs
i dont know about questions 1& 2 but, i was wondering that too cuz i separated a hen from her mate to see if she will become broody and now im wondering if her eggs will be fertile
Good Luck

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

As far as I know, the answers to #1 and #2 are about the same. And that answer is roughly two weeks.

 

[Daidohead]

1- 2-3 weeks, give or take, many variables
2- 7-10 days, the sooner the better
3- Do not wash, it removes the protective bloom on the egg
4- 3-4 times a day
5- yes, it will heat back up
6- anywhere so long as the room temp is steady
Bonus Q- aint got a clue

Good luck to ya

 

[Daidohead]

The answer to your bonus question is best found in the breed and genitics forum. There are those in there that can even tell ya what color eyelashes the birds will have.

 

[australorp_breeder]

Thanks Dadiohead, I managed to find one person who could give me an answer to my bonus question. And thank you everyone else for your answers! I'll stay subscribed to this just to see if anyone else can give me answers. How often, or can you give me a timespan for each egg turn? Like 9am (turn eggs) and 9pm (turn eggs)? Like that?

 

[Lotsapaints]

I'm turning mine at 8 AM 4PM and midnight they look good so far just remember to turn them some people just turn them every 12 hrs others 5 times. Mine lay on the bottom not in holders marked x and o and sometimes I turn them later or earlier but I do it 3 times per day because it works for me. Good luck on your hatch

 

[Penturner]

1. 2 weeks
2. 7 days
3. Don't wash but if you absolutely must remove something do not rub or scrub and use warm not cold water.
4. People very from every hour to only a few times a day. Minimum three times a day, as for your extra questions concerning this. basically space the turning as evenly through your awake hours as possible, when you get up, sometime in between and before you go to bed.
5. Yes but this is not a problem for the first 18 days, things change after that.
6. yes it matters, you want a location that is as stable in temperature as possible and humidity will not vary widely. kitchens and bathrooms are both bad for wide temp and humidity swings. No direct sunlight, no drafts. Most incubators are designed to handle normal indoor temps around 76 degrees and that they will remain stable. some are better about dealing with changes than others.
No idea on the bonus question.