Still air incubator help

[Rose Quartz]

So I placed it on the floor and it’s reading 102 is that too high should I lower the temp?

That sounds good.

 

[SGTdebo305]

That sounds good.

AWSOME thank you and the humidity what do you recommend it’s been at 50-60% it dropped at the high 40s so I added more water and it went up to 77 I think that’s a little high right?

 

[SGTdebo305]

When candling the eggs is it ok to take them out? Will this not effect the baby chick in any way? Because of the temperature difference ?

 

[Rose Quartz]

AWSOME thank you and the humidity what do you recommend it’s been at 50-60% it dropped at the high 40s so I added more water and it went up to 77 I think that’s a little high right?

humidity really depends on what your local humidity is. I live on the coast so it's always humid here I run mine dry for the first 18 days. it's all based on your aircell size today being day 7 your air cells should be close to the day 7 line. if it's too small drop your humidity if it's too big raise it.

When candling the eggs is it ok to take them out? Will this not effect the baby chick in any way? Because of the temperature difference ?

It's fine to take them out, just be gentle with them. Broody hens will get up off their eggs for about an hour every day to eat, drink and relieve themselves. The shot temp difference won't hurt them.

 

[007Sean]

Back when I first started incubating eggs (1967) the recommended temp was 103°F. at the top of the eggs, with still air incubators. I hatched quite a few at that temp.
An old timer told me to lower the temp to 102°F, my hatch rate went up a little...the incubators back then were either made of wood or galvanized sheet metal. It was easier to keep the temps and humidity stable with them as opposed to the foam bators of today.

You have already been given some good advice....so I'll just say "Good Luck" and Happy hatching!

 

[SGTdebo305]

humidity really depends on what your local humidity is. I live on the coast so it's always humid here I run mine dry for the first 18 days. it's all based on your aircell size today being day 7 your air cells should be close to the day 7 line. if it's too small drop your humidity if it's too big raise it.

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It's fine to take them out, just be gentle with them. Broody hens will get up off their eggs for about an hour every day to eat, drink and relieve themselves. The shot temp difference won't hurt them.

Thank you so much, I’ve learned a lot

 

[Rose Quartz]

Thank you so much, I’ve learned a lot

^u^ not a problem! Glad to help.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

humidity really depends on what your local humidity is

I disagree with this and think it's a commonly misunderstood concept.

Your ambient humidity is only relative to how much water you will need to add to achieve your desired incubator humidity. And this can vary by day or season...

Like you say you run yours dry... sometimes dry is only 10% inside my bator while other times it is 25% 35% or more. My ambient humidity rarely goes below 65% and often 80%+. It was a real adjustment moving from the desert.

I personally run all my hatches at 30-45% humidity through day 18 and then raise to 65% for hatch.

Honestly... 102 measured at the floor... would make me uncomfortable. But that's knowing my bator. My floor temp is often a couple degrees lower, especially near the edges where the vents are. What type of thermometer is your secondary one and did you calibrate it?

So exciting! This time next year... you'll be giving the hatch advice.

 

[SGTdebo305]

I disagree with this and think it's a commonly misunderstood concept.

Your ambient humidity is only relative to how much water you will need to add to achieve your desired incubator humidity. And this can vary by day or season...

Like you say you run yours dry... sometimes dry is only 10% inside my bator while other times it is 25% 35% or more. My ambient humidity rarely goes below 65% and often 80%+. It was a real adjustment moving from the desert.

I personally run all my hatches at 30-45% humidity through day 18 and then raise to 65% for hatch.

Honestly... 102 measured at the floor... would make me uncomfortable. But that's knowing my bator. My floor temp is often a couple degrees lower, especially near the edges where the vents are. What type of thermometer is your secondary one and did you calibrate it?

So exciting! This time next year... you'll be giving the hatch advice.

Hello thank you, I live in Texas so humidity here goes cray up and down. I have a still air incubator I have all Chanel’s full of water and it normally stays at the high 50’s sometimes 60% I’m still lost on the persentage because a lot of different people say different so I’m not sure. My temp is at 102 the reader floats above the eggs the seconday I have on floor and it reads the same, I’m only doing 102 because that’s what the manual recomended for not having egg turner I do think it’s a little hot. That’s why I’m asking for advice

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have a still air incubator I have all Chanel’s full of water and it normally stays at the high 50’s sometimes 60% I’m still lost on the persentage because a lot of different people say different so I’m not sure.

Are you able to post a pic of your set up? I only have to fill all the wells at hatch.. so I am wondering if your humidity sensor is accurate. What day are you on now? Have you candled yet?

One reason there are so many differing suggestions is due to possibly old information or simply preference. White eggs can take more humidity during incubation than brown eggs because white eggs don't have the extra color coating that brown do which inhibits evaporation.. in comparison.

Keep track of what you decide and then pay attention at hatch.. it can tell you if you were to moist or too dry. A WIDE range of humidity will still net lots of hatching. But temperature is really not negotiable. One of your thermometers is inaccurate according to my experience... NO way, in still air incubator should floor temp be the same as it is hovering above the eggs. Now this could be the floor one touching say the metal grate and catching it's surface temp instead of the air temp or something to that effect. Whether you use a turner or not is irrelevant to temp. And honestly I got some of my best hatches using a still air bator with no turner! But 102 is correct for no fan.

What happens if you lay your secondary one on top of the eggs, after about a half hour? Is your second gauge digital or analog? Does your secondary one also measure humidity or how are you gauging that?

I personally don't measure air cells any more... as I often can't see through the eggs. Weighing them is another option. I don't do that anymore either... with enough experience in my location and such... I simply set my parameters and hatch away! Sometimes getting 100%.

Sounds like you are doing your best! Paying attention and learning as ya go. All the suggestions in the world won't make up for your personal experience which is the mother of all teachers.

Hope ya saw some veins!