*Dirty eggs are good but can be used if you're willing to risk the bacteria that *might* grow. Dry scrub them down a bit to get as much of the poop off as you can...sandpaper, scouring pad, etc.,. Be easy on them....they're eggs, ya know!
*Temperature range depends on whether you have a still-air or forced-air incubator. Forced-air incubators should be set up for 99.5F degrees. Still-air incubators should be set up for 102F degrees. Temperatures too high or too low can cause early or late hatches and chicks with physical deformities/health problems. Temperature will fluctuate some while turning...mother hen's get up off the nest all along and move the eggs around. What wattage bulb are you using in the incubator?
*All CHICKEN eggs incubate at the same temperature (using temps appropriate for a still-air or forced air incubator)...and for 21 days.
*Regulate the temperature without a thermostat? Sure, as long as you can stay awake 24/7 for three weeks and check your thermometer every *few* minutes. Regulating the temperature without a thermostat can probably be done but I think it would be incredibly difficult. You need a thermostat if you're going to seriously incubate eggs. If you're only shooting for one or two eggs then do a search on here about folks incubating a couple of eggs with their (human) body heat. Really!
*You can also lower humidity by partially covering the water container/sponge with a piece of tin-foil. You can adjust the humidity by covering more or less of the water surface with the foil...cover more of the wet surface for less humidity...uncover more wet surface for more humidity.
*Turn your eggs three or more times a day, making sure that you end up turning them an *odd* number of times. I would think that once an hour isn't too often, BUT...then you're opening the incubator up too much and causing the temperature and humidity to fluctuate too much....as Cindiloohoo said, 3-5 times will probably work good. Turning the eggs an odd number of times each day helps to insure that on each subsequent night the eggs are laying on their opposite sides for the night...this helps to keep them from *sticking* in the shell by balancing out the long, non-turning time during the night. You can put write and "x" or something on the side of the eggs that will help you keep up with which side is facing up...."x" side tonight, "blank" side tomorrow night, etc.,.
*The Chickenonthehill... what temperature is your incubator holding at?
Hope this helps some or at least gives ya'll some food for thought,
Ed
but some vibration is also unavoidable. I'd reduce to 2 sponges to get the humidity down. That should level it off. What are you using as a heat soure?
