Temp for a still air versus a forced air

[Chrissyc1]

Is 99.5 the desired temp for both types of incubators? I borrowed an incubator from a friend last year and it had a fan in it, and I kept the temp at 99.5, and things went well. My husband bought me my own incubator for Christmas, but it is a still air.... I was just wondering if the temp should be the same. Also remind me of the humidity... 30% for the first 18 days and 50-665% for the last three... is that correct.
I am receiving my eggs this week in the mail and I am ready to go.... (right now the bator is running with 99.5 degrees and 25-30% humidity)(so if I need to make adjustments before I put the eggs in, just let me know)

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[dlhunicorn]

This should help you
http://www.clemson.edu/psapublishing/PAGES/ADVS/EC530.PDF
(scroll down and click the info you need in the menu to the left)

 

[briarpatchfarms]

A still are should be set between 100 to 102. So shoot for 101! Still air incubators set to these temperatures often cause your chicks to hatch a little early by a day or two. Even though they will hatch early go by regular schedule and stop turning on day 18 like normal!

 

[Chrissyc1]

thanks for all the answers so far....I need to go home tonight and bump the temp up a little bit!! What about the humidity?
briarpatchfarms - I looked at your website... your bantam cochins are so PRETTY!!!! WOW!!

 

[briarpatchfarms]

Quote:
Thanks...Humidity is the same for forced air. I dont pay attention to humidity myself I keep water in the bottom all the time then I spray water all around with a spray bottle twice a day the last three! Works for me! But I think your right on the humidity!

Im still not 100% complete with my site but its still a work in progress once the shows start back up it wont take long and Ill have everything complete....need a new camera before hand though haha!

 

[Intheswamp]

I'm thinking that the standard temperature for a still-air is 102F.

Fans apparently foster better hatches by spreading the temperature out evenly in the incubator and decreasing the likelyhood of warm/cool spots. A surplus computer fan and wall-wart power supply and you suddenly have a forced-air incubator.

Temperature measurements are usually stated as being at "top of egg". I have seen it stated that the optimal internal temperature of the egg is 99.8F.

But, millions of birds have been hatched with still-airs and at temperatures slightly above or below those those stated.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

Humidity...

From this greenhorn's perspective...

* Too high of a humidity level and you have chicks to drown when they pip through the air-sac membrane and chicks that live tend to be "mushy" and do not thrive well. Other health issues can also strike the chicks.
* Too low of a humidity level and chicks are shrink-wrapped by the sticky/tacky/dry membrane which they can't tear out of and they die. Deformities and other health issues can also be evident.

There are two "schools of thought" on humidity... "regular" and "dry". (I dunno, should the "regular" way be considered "wet"?).

In "regular" incubation folks tend to use a 50% level during incubation and then bump it up to the 65% range during hatching.

For "dry" humidity levels are kept down below 35-40% and water usually isn't added until the level approaches 25%. For the last three days the humidity is bumped up to around 60-65%.

Here is a link to a good thread here on BYC regarding humidity, it kind of falls apart at the end but pretty good up until then...get a fresh cup of coffee...
Humidity in Bator...EXCELLENT INFO HERE! EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS!

Also, remember to "calibrate" your hygrometer if you want a fairly exact reading.

Getting the desired humidity level that you settle on is really an individual thing...it will depend on your location both regional (WA is wetter than AZ) and within your house/shed (a spare bedroom will be drier than a bathroom) , local weather conditions (dry, wet?), altitude (down in a swamp or up on a mountain), etc.,.

Best wishes, hope I haven't erred to badly in what I've sad...but the information is at least worth exactly what you've paid for it.

Ed

 

[Chrissyc1]

wow, you are full of Wonderful information... I will get to reading on that post! Thanks so much...
I had thought about buying one of those fan kits and installing it.... but I think I will try this batch with the still air, and if it doesn't do as well, then I'll invest in one of those fan kits.

you guys on here are so very kind!!!

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Since you're in no rush for the fan you might want to research doing a DIY fan modification...it's *really* not hard and the parts can pick picked up pretty cheap...sometimes free! Lot's cheaper than the ~$30 fan-kit price.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

This is a short thread regarding a DIY fan modification. There are several more threads here on BYC...

DIY Fan

Ed