Questions about incubating...getting ready for my first hatch!

[Overoberyl]

I'm new to BYC, new to chickens in general, and getting ready for my first hatch (super excited!). The bad thing is, I didn't plan well, and being a newbie, I didn't realize that I would need to set up the incubator and have it run for awhile before putting eggs in it...AND on top of that, the incubator I ordered (Hova Bator forced air) is scheduled to arrive after the eggs. So I went to the feed store and bought the only one they carry, the LG still air...and am hoping to make the best of the situation until my Hova Bator arrives.

My first question is, would it be alright for me to start the eggs out in the LG still air, and then once I get my Hova Bator forced air set up, to transfer them into that one?

I'm also wondering about humidity, I've got the temp in the LG steady at 99.5 at the level of the egg turner, but have yet to put any water in or open the vents to see how this may affect temp...should I also do that ahead of time before putting in the eggs? I've read some posts about people not putting water in the bator until further along in the process...?

Finally, I will be putting 12 eggs into the bator, should I line them up in the egg turner side by side, or should I space them out throughout the racks?

I'm really hoping that despite my bad planning, I can still get a few live chicks out of this hatch. I've been religiously reading BYC and the information here is amazing! I certainly would have killed my eggs if not for the info here. I hope these are not silly questions and I would love any advice you all may have. Thanks!!

 

[Roxannemc]

I'm new to BYC, new to chickens in general, and getting ready for my first hatch (super excited!). The bad thing is, I didn't plan well, and being a newbie, I didn't realize that I would need to set up the incubator and have it run for awhile before putting eggs in it...AND on top of that, the incubator I ordered (Hova Bator forced air) is scheduled to arrive after the eggs. So I went to the feed store and bought the only one they carry, the LG still air...and am hoping to make the best of the situation until my Hova Bator arrives.

My first question is, would it be alright for me to start the eggs out in the LG still air, and then once I get my Hova Bator forced air set up, to transfer them into that one?

I'm also wondering about humidity, I've got the temp in the LG steady at 99.5 at the level of the egg turner, but have yet to put any water in or open the vents to see how this may affect temp...should I also do that ahead of time before putting in the eggs? I've read some posts about people not putting water in the bator until further along in the process...?

Finally, I will be putting 12 eggs into the bator, should I line them up in the egg turner side by side, or should I space them out throughout the racks?

I'm really hoping that despite my bad planning, I can still get a few live chicks out of this hatch. I've been religiously reading BYC and the information here is amazing! I certainly would have killed my eggs if not for the info here. I hope these are not silly questions and I would love any advice you all may have. Thanks!!

WElcome to BYC!!From Missouri

If shipped let them sit in a carton with big end up for 12-24hours first to let the air cell stablize.

Yes move them as soon as you have the other bator regulated

Add the water now as you are right, the humidity will change the temp a little. Add it and then wait an hour or so see where the temps settles. Never move yout temp around unti lthe lid has been closed for a 1/2 hour to hour
HUMIDITY.. youcan try dry ...but I would recommend about 40-45% humidity.Thats what i use.Others use higher or lower but each house is different so hard to know until you have had a hatch or 2 what works best So i go midrange.
I had no luck with dry hatch not one egg hatched . Think i shrink wrapped the few i might have hatched so if I were you I would go middle range not 50% and not dry.
I try and keep mine 42-46 then lockdown 70-75 and temps as very even as possible as close to 99.5 as you can keep it .From what i read the temp not varying much is critical and especially not to go up a lot.I put my Hovabator 1602N in a closet i thought it didnt have a draft in my room but it jumped all ove 2 hatches In the closet it was really pretty even 98.8-101..i did have 14 eggs in I feel like its easier to regulate the more eggs are incubating for some reason.

TURNER...Well i varied mine where they went b.c my thinking was if one spot the temp was higher a little than another at least something would hatch.Just my thinking maybe someone else would do it differently

 

[Roxannemc]

WElcome to BYC!!From Missouri

If shipped let them sit in a carton with big end up for 12-24hours first to let the air cell stablize.

Yes move them as soon as you have the other bator regulated

Add the water now as you are right, the humidity will change the temp a little. Add it and then wait an hour or so see where the temps settles. Never move yout temp around unti lthe lid has been closed for a 1/2 hour to hour
HUMIDITY.. youcan try dry ...but I would recommend about 40-45% humidity.Thats what i use.Others use higher or lower but each house is different so hard to know until you have had a hatch or 2 what works best So i go midrange.
I had no luck with dry hatch not one egg hatched . Think i shrink wrapped the few i might have hatched so if I were you I would go middle range not 50% and not dry.
I try and keep mine 42-46 then lockdown 70-75 and temps as very even as possible as close to 99.5 as you can keep it .From what i read the temp not varying much is critical and especially not to go up a lot.I put my Hovabator 1602N in a closet i thought it didnt have a draft in my room but it jumped all ove 2 hatches In the closet it was really pretty even 98.8-101..i did have 14 eggs in I feel like its easier to regulate the more eggs are incubating for some reason.

TURNER...Well i varied mine where they went b.c my thinking was if one spot the temp was higher a little than another at least something would hatch.Just my thinking maybe someone else would do it differently

What i forgot to say is the bator in the closet varied that much the whole 3 weks hereand there but 85-90
% of the time was at 99.7