Nov1- set 5 eggs -Skillet-bator... 3 live embryos

[willowcol]

On my last hatch I caught it at 105, I uickly openned it and I had 9 out 10 eggs hatch. i know it was probably beginners luck but maybe you will have some too.

 

[mark3208]

Im more concerned ,that there isnt any bacon in there.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Sorry, but I keep noticing you mentioning the 'probe' temp. Are you using a water wiggler, or just the probe? If you are using the wiggler method, you want the probe temp to be as close to 99.5 as it can get.

 

[alalele]

Quote:
Yes!!! water wiggler! it's UNDER The accurite. The wiggler (really a small ziplock taped into a tube) is sitting just like an egg at same level and the probe inserted in the opening.

Thanks for that info... I'm compiling all of the input ya'll are graciously giving...
99.5 for wiggler method
35% humidity... only up it if it drops below 25%
and I'm raising (extra cushion) the eggs that read hotter on the shell bottoms.... um.... there ARE hot spots according to this digital infrared tool I'm using.....

I'm thinking it reads the SHELL temp... not the internal temp... but not sure.

http://www.deeteeenterprises.com/product.php?productid=16982&cat=0&page=1
I used this device to check the temperatures of all the eggs... anybody know how it works?

 

[alalele]

Quote:

Well if it doesn't work as an incubator than it just might!

 

[alalele]

Quote:
Thanks Willow! Glad to hear you had good luck! What method did you use? I'm imagining this skillet incubator as an upside down heat source...

In my learning curve it's occuring to me that I'm surely handling the eggs too much with all this fiddling...

but when checking recently I had an egg in my palm and it felt as warm as if it had just been laid..

. that ALWAYS fascinates me if I'm lucky enough to witness and then hold a freshly laid egg.... so that was Comforting to me... so onward I go...

 

[swtangel321]

How are you keep the hum in there ?? Bowl of water ?

 

[alalele]

Quote:
Hi.. um this is what I'm learning..... #1, There is moisture escaping from the eggs. #2 It's humid in Louisiana anyway.
(forgot to weigh the eggs last night, so still plan to today.. they should continue to lose moisture and the air cell grows larger or the chicks will be mushy... IF they aren't baked already from too high temps earlier)

Currently I believe the method I'm trying out is the 'dry' method it may be unnessary to add any water given the stats I'm getting:

2:35pm :Without any water the humidity is currently reading 40%/ wiggler probe is 99.7F... glass top is off temporarily to allow hum to excape and egg probe temp to drop.

Originally I WAS using a small s/s cup in the skillet with a sponge & have it on hand if needed... but I have an Updated GOAL to keep the humidity between 30-35% and only add water if it drops below 25%.

I'm keeping the skillet-bator in my half bath with door shut to create a micro climate kind of. there is no a/c vent in there, but there is an exhaust fan if I need to pull out some humidity. We'll see how it goes... I can read and read and read... but actually 'doing' it is really helping me understand the concepts....

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
Hi.. um this is what I'm learning..... #1, There is moisture escaping from the eggs. #2 It's humid in Louisiana anyway.
(forgot to weigh the eggs last night, so still plan to today.. they should continue to lose moisture and the air cell grows larger or the chicks will be mushy... IF they aren't baked already from too high temps earlier)

Currently I believe the method I'm trying out is the 'dry' method it may be unnessary to add any water given the stats I'm getting:

2:35pm :Without any water the humidity is currently reading 40%/ wiggler probe is 99.7F... glass top is off temporarily to allow hum to excape and egg probe temp to drop.

Originally I WAS using a small s/s cup in the skillet with a sponge & have it on hand if needed... but I have an Updated GOAL to keep the humidity between 30-35% and only add water if it drops below 25%.

I'm keeping the skillet-bator in my half bath with door shut to create a micro climate kind of. there is no a/c vent in there, but there is an exhaust fan if I need to pull out some humidity. We'll see how it goes... I can read and read and read... but actually 'doing' it is really helping me understand the concepts....

Did you check out the page I wrote in an earlier post.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html I understand what you mean about doing and learning !! You could use this as a guide !!

Now does your bator/skillet have any air vents in it ?? B/c ALL bators need fresh air....Usally on a normal bator day 1-18 you would want to have one plug open and on day 18 take the other out !! So some kind of venting is a must !!


As far as the hum goes.... if its at 40% now then dont add any water or anything wet. 40% should be fine, its a little higher than what I do for "dry" but should work.... If you REALLY want to get it down more you could try a de humidafier (sp?) in the room !!

How many days have the eggs been in there ??

 

[alalele]

Well that didn't work! My humidity is still hovering around 40% and want it around 35% so thought I'd try running the outside vent in my half bath (door stays shut). The humidity rose 5 degrees in 6 minutes!!!! At least I know how to draw IN humidity now

Then I opened the half bath door to try letting some a/c air flow in and humidity immediately started dropping by 3% since I last checked... what a science project this is...