new at incubating

[five is my dog]

i tried to incubate eggs before but had to leave for one week. the people hatching my eggs for me didn't turn them all week. one pipped but was to weak to hatch the others never hatched. i candled them before i left and they were moving.

. any advice? i am going to hatch again and not leave for a week
i also have a question about putting them in the brooder. should i put them in before they are dry so they dont roll the eggs around or leave them till they fluff. i have had people tell me either way. i need expierenced hatchers!

 

[five is my dog]

anyone?

 

[DarthLayer]

Well I'm not an experienced hatcher and I am to new at hatching too ( I've had a broody hen hatch eggs but the hen does all the work ). But I have done a lot of reading about hatching chicks and read let the chicks dry before they go in the brooder, but give them 4-6 hours to dry and if they aren't dry after that amount of time go ahead and put them in the brooder. I have some eggs coming in this week and just got my incubator today. I wish you luck with your next batch!

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

I tend to let them dry out a bit before moving them to a brooder. But that's just me, as I think about what a hen would do. If they were hatched out under a hen, she wouldn't move them away from the other eggs.

 

[Jordi15]

Im not exactly experienced, I'm on my fourth hatch ... But unless they're shipped eggs they must be turned at LEAST 2 times a day from day one. If they are shipped let them rest a few days before you start turning. This helps with the air cell. Never open the incubator if there is an external pip. You risk shrink wrapping or, in my case, sticky chicks that looked hairsprayed. If there are no external pips it won't hurt getting the chicks out so they don't roll the other eggs around. Personally I would leave them in for atleast 8-12 hrs after they hatch... I hatch in egg cartons with the bottoms cut out so if I have to leave the hatched chicks in longer they aren't rolling the others around. I'm guessing (if you're like me) you have done lots of research and you know how important temperature is. Needs to be 99-100 in a forced air and 102 in still air. Humidity isnt as important but does have a purpose! I dry hatch so my goal humidity is 30-40% during days 1-18 and 60-70% on lockdown. I have three thermometer/hydrometers in there and I made sure I calibrated them before. I've read A LOT before I started so if you have another question I might be able to answer. There are a lot more experienced people here and I'm sure they'll chime in soon! Good luck!!

 

[five is my dog]

thank you all of you!