Questions on incubation ... please help!

[yinepu]

I was singing "Red Solo Cup!" as I was typing!!!

 

[angsaidso]

Lol.. I don't even add that much water.
The best way to see if any extra water is needed is to weigh the eggs before setting.. and then again once a week to see if the weight loss is on track with where it should be (they need to lose 12 to 15 % +/- 1.2% of their weight over the duration of incubation)
If they are losing weight too quickly then water can be added. If only a few are losing weight too quickly then the reason could be shell porosity or the eggs location near the fan
if they arent losing weight quickly enough then the air flow can be increased (assuming you have been incubating dry)

They've only been in the bator for one day ... is it too late to pull them out and weight them??? Or should you? I know smaller birds are very sensitive to the change in temps ... and too much will reduce your hatch dramatically.

 

[yinepu]

They've only been in the bator for one day ... is it too late to pull them out and weight them??? Or should you? I know smaller birds are very sensitive to the change in temps ... and too much will reduce your hatch dramatically.

nope.. they will be fine.. so pull them out and weigh them! (gram scales preferred)

 

[angsaidso]

Also, what kind of incubator are you guys using?

 

[yinepu]

Also, what kind of incubator are you guys using?

I have 2 that I use for emus
a modified Little Giant (pics are in the link in my signature "my emu hatch 2012").. used only for hatching emu eggs
and a Reptipro 5000 that is my all time favorite incubator

 

[yinepu]

by the way.. get used to taking the emu eggs out of the incubator.. you will need to weigh them once a week.. and when it gets close to hatch you will be talking to them and tap testing them (and possibly even "cool testing" them).

 

[Yoda]

Nothing serious folks, but I have a few questions. I have four beautiful emu eggs sitting on my counter and I have done a TON of research on them, including incubating ... I have seen mixed info (Of course) regarding temp and humidity. 99 degrees with 25% humidity seems to be the going average info. But the one thing I didn't see is ... Do you set them on end like a chicken or turkey egg?? Can you put them on the turners in the Sportman ... if they aren't supposed to be on end, what is the best way to brace them in the turners? Will the turners work if the eggs aren't on end? Does anyone have any other suggestions I might be able to use? These darn eggs are expensive and I already love my chicks ... but I am scared they won't hatch due to something stupid I might do. And so I just want one more shot at info and then will do the best I can with all of the info I have collected. The incubator is ready ... now just to make sure I set them right! This is going to be the LONGEST 50 days of my life!!!!
Peace ~ Ang

Ang if you look at the Emu hatching thread I started you will see that my reptipro incubator is set at 99 degrees. The reason for this is the inside stays at 97 for the top shelf and about 96 - 96.5 for the bottom of the incubator. Always best to turn your incubator on and run it for a few days with a thermometer in it to see what the temp inside it. If after 24 hours your temp doesn't read the proper temp you will have to adjust the heat. Sometimes we have to set the thermometer higher or lower depending on each incubator. Unfortunately mine needs to be set higher. I too turn mine every 8 hours - 10am, 6pm and 2am. I have no water in my incubator I run it dry.

 

[angsaidso]

by the way.. get used to taking the emu eggs out of the incubator.. you will need to weigh them once a week.. and when it gets close to hatch you will be talking to them and tap testing them (and possibly even "cool testing" them).

"cool testing"???

And I thought I had read everything I could find and done my homework!!! :-((( I am so grateful for all of your help!!!

I will get a scale tomorrow. I assume a postal scale is best?

 

[angsaidso]

I have a Little Giant ... maybe I will modify!

 

[yinepu]

Ang if you look at the Emu hatching thread I started you will see that my reptipro incubator is set at 99 degrees. The reason for this is the inside stays at 97 for the top shelf and about 96 - 96.5 for the bottom of the incubator. Always best to turn your incubator on and run it for a few days with a thermometer in it to see what the temp inside it. If after 24 hours your temp doesn't read the proper temp you will have to adjust the heat. Sometimes we have to set the thermometer higher or lower depending on each incubator. Unfortunately mine needs to be set higher. I too turn mine every 8 hours - 10am, 6pm and 2am. I have no water in my incubator I run it dry.

Lol.. My Reptipro is the same way.. that's why i have been telling people in the Reptipro thread to ignore the digital temperature display and to go by the temperature reading at shelf / egg level

"cool testing"???

And I thought I had read everything I could find and done my homework!!! :-((( I am so grateful for all of your help!!!

I will get a scale tomorrow. I assume a postal scale is best?

Cool testing is one test you can do towards the end of incubation to help determine if there is a chick in the egg

by taking the egg out of the incubator for about 5 minutes or so and allowing it to cool.. you can usually tell if there is a live chick inside.. after 5 minutes you feel both ends of the egg.. if both ends are cool to the touch there's no chick.. but if one end stays warmer there's a good chance that there is a live chick in the egg

I have a Little Giant ... maybe I will modify!