Question about the shelf liner in incubator

[Montanna]

When exactly do you put the shelf liner in the incubator? I have the shelf liner but didn't know if I should put it in on day 18, or sooner.
I have 7 eggs in the incubator, it is day 10, we candled them on Day 7 and they were all growing. The eggs are from my hens, which are just hens from the neighbor down the road. Yes......... I also have a rooster

They are nothing special, but they are good layers, every day I get 3 eggs from 3 hens.

By the way, my temps have been holding at 100 degrees F and I finally found a water wriggler, and it is holding just a couple tenths lower than the thermometer. The humidity is holding at 49 - 50% Are these numbers okay?

Thanks so much for all the help. I have learned a lot on this board.
If I think of anything else, I will be sure to post it. I generally learn from reading what has already been posted.

Merry Christmas,

Skeeter AKA Montanna

 

[LoneCowboy]

Good for you!! Your numbers look good to me, but then I killed my whole last batch so I wouldn't trust me.

However, if you have condensation on your glass, your hygrometer might be off. Mine was off by 13% and I didn't know it

Are your eggs in a turner? you don't need to put the shelf liner in until they are ready to hatch, but I don't think it would hurt either way.

 

[speckledhen]

Hey, Skeeter! Your numbers are good for a circulated air bator. Still air needs to be about 101.5-102.
I just put the shelf liner on the wire before I ever start incubating. Then it takes less time to get the hatching part set up on Day 18. Since you didn't, just cut a piece to fit beforehand and pop it in on Day 18 before you stop turning the eggs.

 

[ChickenBreath]

I was just wondering; why does the temperature in a still-air incubator need to be 1 to 1.5 degrees higher than in a circulating-air incubator?

 

[speckledhen]

That temp is at the top of the eggs and since the temps in a still air situation run hotter at the top of the bator, then the temps below, being slightly cooler, average out. A fan keeps the temps much more even throughout, so no need to have them hotter at the top of the eggs.

 

[Montanna]

Thank you for the encouragement! And the explanations of the temps. I will add the shelf liner on day 18. I forgot to mention that we have the still air incubator and we are turning the eggs ourselves. It has really been fun, I even get up in the middle of the night and check on them. I call it a "welfare check" We turn them 5 times a day.

Thanks for answering my post.

Merry Christmas
Skeeter AKA Montanna