New to hatching eggs

[FunClucks]

This is sounding like my best option right now, I just worry about having 24 eggs and there only being the 22 spots. Ugh!

Is it pretty straightforward to set up and figure out? Automatic humidity?

I wouldn't worry about having 24 eggs, hand turning is easy, just turn an odd number of times each day, minimum of 3 times. They'll move a bit anyway when the automatic turner turns the other eggs, just do a few test turns to make sure the bottom eggs are turning as they should with the eggs set in the spaces on top. I've hatched several times this way, no issues. Not something to worry about. Humidity is controlled by how much you close the "window", and the instructions tell you exactly where to set it and how to do it, just keep water topped off AM and PM. I used about half a gallon of distilled per hatch, works with sink water too, I just wanted to avoid calcium deposits cause my water is hard. Good instructions come with the unit, very straight forward, and several informative threads on here about the unit. People hatch in this incubator a LOT. It's pretty plug and play.

 

[FunClucks]

You can also use shelf liner to help the eggs have more grip/roll without slipping any, and during hatching to reduce sliding about. I like to use it, and then discard when done. Here's an example of what I'm talking about from Walmart. Put the lid on it, trace, and cut inside the line so it covers the entire incubator bottom where the eggs sit.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I wouldn't worry about having 24 eggs, hand turning is easy, just turn an odd number of times each day, minimum of 3 times. They'll move a bit anyway when the automatic turner turns the other eggs, just do a few test turns to make sure the bottom eggs are turning as they should with the eggs set in the spaces on top. I've hatched several times this way, no issues. Not something to worry about. Humidity is controlled by how much you close the "window", and the instructions tell you exactly where to set it and how to do it, just keep water topped off AM and PM. I used about half a gallon of distilled per hatch, works with sink water too, I just wanted to avoid calcium deposits cause my water is hard. Good instructions come with the unit, very straight forward, and several informative threads on here about the unit. People hatch in this incubator a LOT. It's pretty plug and play.

I’m glad you responded to this, because I also have very hard water and hadn’t thought about this. We have a water softener for our hard water. Will this impact things?

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

You can also use shelf liner to help the eggs have more grip/roll without slipping any, and during hatching to reduce sliding about. I like to use it, and then discard when done. Here's an example of what I'm talking about from Walmart. Put the lid on it, trace, and cut inside the line so it covers the entire incubator bottom where the eggs sit.

View attachment 3960034

Put this in after taking the turner out? Or have it in the whole time?

 

[FunClucks]

Put this in after taking the turner out? Or have it in the whole time?

Either way works and is fine.

 

[FunClucks]

I’m glad you responded to this, because I also have very hard water and hadn’t thought about this. We have a water softener for our hard water. Will this impact things?

I have no idea about softened water, I just didn't want mineral deposits in my incubator, so I used distilled. Softened is probably fine? Since folks use tap water successfully. Took me like half a gallon of distilled for the entire 21 day incubation, so I figured it wasn't a big cost if I used that.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I have no idea about softened water, I just didn't want mineral deposits in my incubator, so I used distilled. Softened is probably fine? Since folks use tap water successfully. Took me like half a gallon of distilled for the entire 21 day incubation, so I figured it wasn't a big cost if I used that.

Our water still leaves mineral deposits even with the softener so I’ll do the same as you, thanks for the tip!