Setting Eggs 1/19 - Hatching Buddies

[AlleysFarm]

Picked up my local hatching eggs today, incubator set it has been holding steady at 99-100 degrees with humidity 45-50%. The eggs feel a bit cool to me so I'm letting them warm to room air and will set them tomorrow.

However given my lack of success with my last batch had a few questions...

I have seen on multiple sites the variances in humidity levels, some stating to keep at 50% others stating 60-65%. In Winter what is the best humidity level to be at?

Room temperature ideally is to be at 70 degrees, however I like my house cold and normally keep my thermostat at 64 degrees, so my normal room temp is around 65 degrees on average. Will this effect growth and or the ability to hatch. My last successful hatch was in late Spring so it was much warmer here so didn't need to worry about the room temperature as much.

Thanks!

 

[Larkyn]

I am also going to be setting eggs tomorrow! I am picking up four japanese bantam and two serama eggs.

Honestly, I've had very good hatches keeping my humidity around 30% for days 1-18. I then try to bump it up to about 50-60% during those last couple of days.

 

[lauralgirl]

I set my first "real" attempt at hatching today with 13 Welsummer eggs. I'll be adding a dozen Marans eggs tomorrow. The Welly eggs were 5 days in transit, so I didn't want to wait another full 24 hrs. for the postman to arrive with my Marans eggs tomorrow. Being a novice, I guess I'm a little anxious. I hope setting them 1day apart will be ok... I have no experience to draw on other than what I've read here on BYC over the last few months, but based on that, I'm going with the "dry method" of 20-40% humidity range in my styro LG bator. ...and trying to follow the advice of "don't open the lid until day 7".... After tomorrow, that is. Thanks for this thread I can "hatch along"!

 

[lauralgirl]

I added 8 each of blue copper and black copper Marans eggs to the bator this afternoon for a total of 29. I'm having a little trouble getting the temp to stay consistent, so when I added eggs today, I added some warm marbles to the bottom of the LG. Hopefully that will help. Good luck with your eggs!

 

[texaschickmom]

I am also going to be setting eggs tomorrow! I am picking up four japanese bantam and two serama eggs.

Honestly, I've had very good hatches keeping my humidity around 30% for days 1-18. I then try to bump it up to about 50-60% during those last couple of days.

I set 41 eggs today. I also do the "dry" incubation as Larkyn does. Have had good success with it.

 

[AlleysFarm]

We shall see I have the Hovabator that states to fill the center well so that brings it up to a humidity level of approx 42-49%... Going to definitely be looking into building that coolerbator once I get these hatched.. Guess I'll check the air cells at day seven to see how they are progressing. Going to keep from checking on them till then unless I need to add water as I'm going to see if only opening the bator on Day 7, and 18 helps..

 

[Larkyn]

We shall see I have the Hovabator that states to fill the center well so that brings it up to a humidity level of approx 42-49%... Going to definitely be looking into building that coolerbator once I get these hatched.. Guess I'll check the air cells at day seven to see how they are progressing. Going to keep from checking on them till then unless I need to add water as I'm going to see if only opening the bator on Day 7, and 18 helps..

You've got a lot more willpower than me. LOL. I'm a notorious candler. I'm tempted to grab my flashlight every time I open my incubator to turn.

My past two hatches I have hand turned my eggs...which means opening the incubator at least three times a day. During those times I add water and adjust temperature as needed, although my LG (I have the most basic cheap incubator I could find. I had bought it in a pinch- My favorite hen died and I hatched her last couple of eggs) seems to be doing a much better job staying steady at 99.5-100 degrees F and 25% humidity. Quite a change from my first two hatches in it! Apparently it prefers being upstairs than in the basement. I actually went through my old notes on my 'emergency' hatch and for the first week of that hatch, I had my humidity as low as 15%!

Needless to say, I open the incubator a lot. Probably not the best idea, but as I don't have a turner anymore, I don't really have a choice.

 

[lauralgirl]

Itching to candle eggs! ....not that I'm confident I will be able to identify much. Between the dark color of the eggs (Marans and Welsummer) and being new at this, I might not have any idea what I'm looking at... But I still can't wait.

 

[MommaSampson]

I put 10 eggs in on 1/20. 6 White leghorns, 2 Welsummer and 2 brown eggs not sure from which hen.

 

[pinky67]

Hi! Just set my very first eggs On Friday the 18th! 14 Silkies. Shipped eggs. PA to CA! Packed well...arrived intact. I let them sit for 19 hours big end up. Of the 14 at least 5 had funky air cells. Now they are all in the bator.... big end up! I'm going to try no turning for 5-7 days. Good luck everyone!