Starting incubator

[RosieRooChicks]

OK I tried this once before with no luck but with a cheap incubator - No egg hatched and rotted.

I bought a new incubator that has temp and humidity controls. 12 eggs are within a month old and were in the fridge. I have let them sit out for 24 hours and just turned them. The other 16 have been out at room temp since being gathered. I didn't know to turn them but have moved them around some. They are only a few days or within a couple of weeks old.

I am ready to incubate after turning on incubator what humidity should it reach? Temp at 100 degrees F. Anything else ? It is a self turning. I guess eggs are fertile since I have a Rooster ! Anything else to know to make this time a success ?

Incubator is
56 New Clear Egg Incubator Digital Automatic Hatcher Temperature Control Poultry

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Having looked at your new incubator my first recommendation would be that you get a known to be correct thermometer & hygrometer. I’m afraid the incubator you have are known to give incorrect readings.

I would also run the incubator empty for a couple of days with the thermometer in there to let it settle and to make sure it’s the correct temp. If there is a fan you should be aiming for 99.5 Fahrenheit.

Good luck and I hope you have a great hatch this time round

 

[RosieRooChicks]

Thank you for responding. After inserting thermometer, hygrometer I am getting a higher humidity reading 58% and a lower temp reading 33 degrees C (91.4 F) than on the incubator. Are most temperature and humidity readings on a new device (not incubator) supposedly correct ? My humidity reading should NOT be above 55% correct ?

 

[Chicken Chat]

Sadly, not all brand new thermometers and hygrometers are accurate from the factory, you will need to calibrate them to be sure. There is the salt test with hygrometers and the ice water test for thermometers. The humidity question depends are where you live. I generally go with 35-40% for the first 18 days but I also weigh my eggs and mark my air cells every 7 days to make adjustments with my humidity. If the air cells are growing too large, you need more humidity, too small and you need less humidity. Incubating at different times of the year also need to be considered.

 

[ronott1]

Great tips on using the incubator and calibrating!
The eggs from the fridge will be iffy. Expect a bunch of them to not develop.
The fresh eggs will do much better.

 

[RosieRooChicks]

Day one almost complete AND 32 eggs in the incubator. Incubator has leveled out with temp and RH.

Wish me luck and pray for new babies !!

 

[ronott1]

Can't wait for day 7 candling report!

 

[RosieRooChicks]

Can't wait for day 7 candling report!

I have a candler but not really comfortable with this process. I wish I knew more about it and yes I have watched video and such. I just hate to think I would dispose of a baby chick.

 

[ronott1]

Candling is fun and it is cool to see the little babies swimming in the egg.

You can also make sure that the air cell is developing. You can use the light app on a phone for candling. give it a go!

 

[WVduckchick]

Very much agree with ronott! Give it a try! It should be very obvious that you have "something" growing inside the egg, even when you don't know exactly what you are looking at. Experience is the only way to learn. Don't remove any until you are comfortable with what you are seeing, but you will never know if you don't try!

(sorry, I'm a candle-a-holic... its so fascinating to see!)