rookie with an incubator

[kathyinmo]

So please someone help with this. a still air little giant. with a thermometer mostly on top.
what is the perfect temp...and what temp can you get by with and still be in good shape..please note its a still air

also
what about humidity

is 98-102 acceptable

for the first 18 days should it be between 40-50% or 35-45%

Im confused due to mine being still are and its my first time.. setting it up and putting eggs in friday

I don't even worry about the humidity the first 18 days, as long as it is above 20%. (30-35% is good). Day 18-21 I use 60-65% humidity (no higher).

Temperature goes up and down, but the average in a still air should be around 101.5

 

[chickaroo3]

Ok I am right there with you! What temps do i need to be at? I have the hobovator still air. I have been told no higher than 102 but no lower than 100....humidity I have been told no lower than 30 and no higher than 50...this is all in first 18 days....tomorrow I think I might candle one or two and the eggs will tell me what is going on ....LOL

 

[kathyinmo]

Forget about the humidity the first 18 days. As long as it is above 20% you are fine. 30 - 35% is about perfect. Day 18 you will fill the troughs with water and shoot for around 60% humidity.

Temp in a still air is ideal around 101.5 as an average. Remember, as it cycles up and down, the temp will vary. You want the average to be 101.5 or close to it.

 

[chickaroo3]

Ok thanks Kathy...I was writing my post when you posted LOL....this really doesnt seem to be an exact science, but then again either does a mother hen sittin on her eggs...LOL. I just really want these eggs to hatch.... this is a combination of sussex, silkie, polish, and an unknown breed. A friend/ breeder sent them to me....and the unknown are a surprise. when do you recommend candling...I am probably going to candle only twice.

 

[kathyinmo]

I recommend candling at day 10 and day 18.

I am not a serial candler and only do it on day 18 myself.

Good luck! Hope you have a great hatch!

 

[chickaroo3]

thanks again...cheers

 

[chickaroo3]

Ok ....Do not know what I am looking at....I set the eggs on fiday afternoon/ evening so technically we are in the middle of day 3...I couldnt handle it anymore and had to candle a couple....I use one of the new fangaled light bulbs...lower heat and a cup with a hole in the bottom...all I could see was a dark circle.....wasnt a very high powered light and I couldnt get complete darkness in the room...10:28am here...is this a good thing ....that I am seeing a dark circle

 

[kathyinmo]

You really can not see anything at day 3. You set them Friday evening, and this is Monday morning..... that is not even 3 days.
You really should not be handling the eggs at this point. They are very fragile and the contents can easily be displaced, you could drop them, they can get bacteria from your hands, etc..... I recommend you wait to candle until day 10.

 

[chickaroo3]

Kathy,

You are killin me.....I wanna see what is going on in there, but I will behave and listen...what kind of chickens do you have?

 

[wvtim]

I strongly suggest that you put a computer fan on top on your LG incubator - And Make sure the bottom is elevated so air can come up through the holes in the bottom. I didnt do this for 2-3 hatches and nothing hatched. The humidity is such a inexact science - i have seen it suggested not to put any water in the incubator until the very end. Dont touch your eggs anymore than you have to - the only time you should open is when you put it wet hot sponges or add hot water to the channel in the bottom of your LG. Good Luck - Im about ready to get rid of my LG because of the inconsistency with the temps.