NEW to the Chicken World!

[kdunn716]

Hello everyone, I am so excited to FINALLY have my own chickens! growing up they were always my favorite part of going to my papas house and now I get to share that experience with my 4 children but I am nervous lol. I resently purchased a still air incubator and I have 18 eggs on their way to me in the mail. (6 naked neck, 12 black copper marans). I know that since they are thro the mail the hatching rate will go down. I also know that I have to let them sit pointed side down for at least 12 hours to settle before putting them in. I know some stuff here and there that I've been researching and reading up on.

Is there anything that you as an experienced incubator-er have learned or know that would be helpful to me in my adventure? Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks, Katie

 

[Toddrick]

Welcome to BYC!

The most common problem with incubators seems to be temperatures not being correct. Never trust one thermometer, always test with a couple to verify accuracy. Make sure your adjustments are made and temps/humidity are stable before introducing the eggs. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[kdunn716]

Thank you so much! Yes I did notice that about mine. I ran it for about 8 hours to test it out. I was able to keep the humidity at 50 without any water and the temp on the unit said 97 but inside thermometer said 100. Im buying a third just to be sure.

 

[RubyNala97]

Thank you so much! Yes I did notice that about mine. I ran it for about 8 hours to test it out. I was able to keep the humidity at 50 without any water and the temp on the unit said 97 but inside thermometer said 100. Im buying a third just to be sure.

Have you calibrated your thermometer and hygrometer? I can link directions on how to do that if you'd like. Also, the temps for still air need to be a little higher, between 101 & 102, taken at the top of the egg. Shipped eggs are their own challenge. After letting them rest for 12 hours, candle to check on their air cell damage. I leave my shipped eggs in a vertical position (inside the incubator) with out turning for at least 48 hours, longer if there is bad damage.

 

[drewskimac]

Anybody who disagrees, feel free to butt in, you won't hurt my feelings. It is extremely important to keep CONSISTENCY. i have noticed that I have MUCH better results to have my temp. consistently a certain small amount low or consistently a VERY SMALL amount high than to have the perfect temperature 1/3 of the time, have it too high 1/3 of the time and too low 1/3 of the time. If your temp is always a bit to low, then the hatch will just be delayed. This is what I have found from personal experience, that if I can't get that temp set on 99.5 and it is always shifting from 98-99.5... I just leave it. For me, it does more harm than good to go high, low, high, low, high, low 5 times a day.

 

[kuchchicks]

Anybody who disagrees, feel free to butt in, you won't hurt my feelings. It is extremely important to keep CONSISTENCY. i have noticed that I have MUCH better results to have my temp. consistently a certain small amount low or consistently a VERY SMALL amount high than to have the perfect temperature 1/3 of the time, have it too high 1/3 of the time and too low 1/3 of the time. If your temp is always a bit to low, then the hatch will just be delayed. This is what I have found from personal experience, that if I can't get that temp set on 99.5 and it is always shifting from 98-99.5... I just leave it. For me, it does more harm than good to go high, low, high, low, high, low 5 times a day.

I do agree. I use to flip out over little fluctuations and think I did more harm messing with it. To error on the lower side is also better. Too hot will kill off the chicks. Also 50% humidity is a little too high for incubation. IMO. I have had great luck keeping mine at 35% during incubation and then jumping to 75% at lockdown. With that said everyone is different. Your best indicator on humidity is the air cells. Watch them on day 7 and 14 and make adjustments based on what you see. Good luck!

 

[drewskimac]

I do agree. I use to flip out over little fluctuations and think I did more harm messing with it. To error on the lower side is also better. Too hot will kill off the chicks. Also 50% humidity is a little too high for incubation. IMO. I have had great luck keeping mine at 35% during incubation and then jumping to 75% at lockdown. With that said everyone is different. Your best indicator on humidity is the air cells. Watch them on day 7 and 14 and make adjustments based on what you see. Good luck!

Yes, I think you're right, I keep my humidity low too. It all depends on your location, where I live the humidity is very high and I have had problems with drowning chicks.

 

[kdunn716]

How do I get the humidity down then? Its at 50 without water or anything in it. Its kinda humid here for this time of year. I got the black copper eggs today, candling them is a challenge lol nearly impossible but they were only shipped yesterday and nothing with damaged or broke so im just hoping they are ok.

 

[drewskimac]

If it's at 50 and you havnt added any, then just leave it. If you have issues with air cells and such then you may need to consider a dehumidifier.

 

[FridayYet]

How do you know it is at 50%? Reason I ask is that the thermometers and hygrometers built in to incubators can be horribly inaccurate. Have you calibrated everything?