New to incubating and need help

[roysnider]

I just fill the trays and when they are empty I fill them again. I have try to keep they fill all the the time and ended up not have enough evaporation. Think of it as a hen on them. She will get up and the humidity will go down the only big concern is to keep water in them and have them full when it is lock down. You need to let some of the water evaporate. Have you check the humidity gauge. Put it in a bag with a cup of salt water. Leave it for 24 hrs and it should be at 75% if not note how much it is of and then you will know the humidity in the incubator. Also have you calibrated you thermometer? You need one that will go to 32 deg. Get a cup of crush ice and put some water in it to make a slush. Then put the thermometer in it and it should go to 32 if not note how much it is off and that is where the temp needs to be. This comes from many bad experience not knowing. Also the water needs to have 2 tab of bleach to 1 gal of water. This help keep the bacteria down in the incubator.

 

[CupOJoe42]

Pardon my ignorance as this is the first time hatching eggs for me and I am using a friend's incubator. Today is day 6 for me as well.

When you are adding water to the trays, are you actually opening the incubator? I have a plastic tube stuck into one of the vent holes. When I need to add water, I have been using a clean sponge to wring warm water down the tube into the bottom of the incubator (between the turning tray egg slots.) The temperature has been holding pretty steady and I have been trying to keep the humidity between 30-40%, although it does fluctuate as the water evaporates during the night. So confusing about humidity, because some believe in dry incubation and some places (ie hatching calendar) recommend 45% humidity in those first 18 days.

 

[homeschoolchick]

Thank you all! I just replied ( I thought) and don't know where it went! ?

I just stink at adding the correct amount of water. I did try adding with a straw but the humidity would go down incredably quick. So then I opened it and added some but it would spike. I can't find a happy medium. It was holding fine until I put the eggs in. I guess I worried once they were in and now can't balance it out

. I am going to buy another gauge and calibrate it and take an average!

BTW, I just candled since this is day seven. Do you know if the eggs that look like they are not developing, might start if I keep them in?

 

[IroquoisEgg]

I highly recommend calibrating your hygrometer...I hatched for months straight last spring. Spent a ton of money on eggs and didn't bother calibrating my hygro even once...I had alot of problems even with my Genesis. I calibrated this year and found one to be reading 15% LOW and the other to be 8% LOW. So-basically last spring I was trying to drown my babies adding more water to more than just the center troughs trying to keep the humidity up. When it was prob just fine most of the time. Calibration recipe: 1/4 cup table salt 1/2 cup water
Stir a bit but it will remain kinda thick. Put mix in a coffee mug. Put mug and hygrometers in gallon ziploc bag without getting any water anywhere. Make sure and place the hygro so you can see it through the bag. Wait 12 hours. Humidity is 75% in bag so calculate the difference compared to what the hygro is reading.

 

[homeschoolchick]

I highly recommend calibrating your hygrometer...I hatched for months straight last spring. Spent a ton of money on eggs and didn't bother calibrating my hygro even once...I had alot of problems even with my Genesis. I calibrated this year and found one to be reading 15% LOW and the other to be 8% LOW. So-basically last spring I was trying to drown my babies adding more water to more than just the center troughs trying to keep the humidity up. When it was prob just fine most of the time. Calibration recipe: 1/4 cup table salt 1/2 cup water
Stir a bit but it will remain kinda thick. Put mix in a coffee mug. Put mug and hygrometers in gallon ziploc bag without getting any water anywhere. Make sure and place the hygro so you can see it through the bag. Wait 12 hours. Humidity is 75% in bag so calculate the difference compared to what the hygro is reading.

Thank you for the recipe! I will do that! You are right, it is a shot in the dark right now. I listened to my hubby who said it didn't need calibrated, but he doesn't read these threads either!

 

[roysnider]

I did the same last year and now I know my gauges and everything is going great.

 

[roysnider]

When I add water i open the top and put it in using a turkey syringe I cut the tip off and I put in what is need. When I go into lock down I use a straw to put it in .

 

[ChooksChick]

Hi everyone!!

There are a lot of different opinions about the way to incubate, but I found a way that worked very well for me and wrote a bit about it. My Cheat Sheet is in my signature for those who are interested. Feel free to ask me anything if you like.

Good luck!

 

[roysnider]

When the chicks start to hatch wait to open it until they have hatch. If you open the top before all the eggs hatch you can get shrink wrap on the unhatched eggs. This is when the eggs that are peep out but not hatch will get the membrane stuck to the chick.

 

[homeschoolchick]

So, last night I calibrated a new hygrometer. I can compare them at 11:22 today

My humidity according to my uncalibrated gauge is at 42%. I will slowly add water today with a straw to keep it between 35-45%.

I hope all goes well!