New to BYC & hatching in the same week.

[ChickenRanger]

Hi everyone, my name is Dave and I live in beautiful La Center, Washington. I just joined the BYC community three days ago and have already logged over twelve hours reading and reviewing this wonderful site. I just set my first twenty four eggs (six varieties) and will be sweating bullets the next three weeks.

Currently, the ambient temperature for the incubator varies about twenty degrees per day. This is already driving me crazy trying to maintain 99.5° internal temp

The humidity is running 50-55 % in the room and right around 14% in the incubator. Hope to make many new and long lasting friendships. Am always open to advise and very grateful to all who offer it as well as for the existence of BYC.

 

[lotzahenz]

I want to be the first to welcome you to BYC!!!

There, done.

Now, in my reading which I call research on here to make myself feel better, the humidity in your bator should not drop below 30% during the first 18 days. Is it possible to get your outside temps more stable, in a temp controlled room? That would help you "relax" a bit and not worry so much about the roving temps. If you look at the top of this page, you will find a heading called search and it will reward you with all those things you need to know to hatch a bunch of new chickies. Best of luck with them, HenZ

 

[kathyinmo]

Hi Dave, and

I, too, have just begun hatching. Today (Saturday) is day 21 for my first batch. I did not want to buy expensive eggs to begin with, so I bought eggs at the local farmer's market, and also a few from a friend at work. Well, I must be livin' right, as all is going well. I have 13 new chicks so far, with more on the way. These are for another family, who recently lost their chickens to coons.

I hope your temperature regulates for ya, and wish you a great hatch!

What are you hatching? How many? Do you currently have poultry?
Good luck!

 

[ChickenRanger]

Hey There Kathyinmo...thanks for the kind words. How did the hatch go as far as your total? I'm hatching (hopefully) RIRs, S L Wyandottes, Buff Orps, Black Australorps and Barred Rocks. There's one other kind of eggs, but darned if I can remember.

I don't presently have any other poultry as they all turned out to be roos and were rehomed before I moved back to Washington. See ya around the site and congrats on your hatch.

 

[ChickenRanger]

Thank you HenZ. I had done research throughout BYC, several books that I own and of course, the operators guide with my bator. I finally read an entry on Dry Incubation by Bill Worrell (https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html). Apparently I mis-read his suggestion on humidity which seems to agree with what you've suggested. Have since increased humidity and have my fingers crossed. Thanks again and as for your comment on "mowing" don't bother, I find it to be way over rated