Temp, Humidity, + Turning

[EnnieM]

What did YOU have most success with in terms of temperature, humidity, + how many times you turn per day? Should I adjust the temp or take out vents once the first start hatching, or after they’re all hatched? THANKS! (Forced air incubator)
I’m planning 99.5-100F, 40-45 humidity 1-18 and 65-75 at lockdown, and turning 4-5 times a day, throughout the day and night. I’m up with the baby anyway.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

It sounds good. You should write down what you do for this hatch, if you encounter problems you'll know to tweak your humidity a bit. Each bird needs different humidity so I'm trying to keep track of that too. Turkey and Peafowl eggs need to ebb on higher side of humidity, dark shelled eggs ebb on lower humidity etc. Plus it matters what the outside of the incubator temps and humidity are registering too; try to keep it close to constant.

 

[EnnieM]

It sounds good. You should write down what you do for this hatch, if you encounter problems you'll know to tweak your humidity a bit. Each bird needs different humidity so I'm trying to keep track of that too. Turkey and Peafowl eggs need to ebb on higher side of humidity, dark shelled eggs ebb on lower humidity etc. Plus it matters what the outside of the incubator temps and humidity are registering too; try to keep it close to constant.

I actually have charts out to track the humidity, temp, how often I turn, and if/when eggs fail so I know what to change next time

 

[MGG]

Only thing I can think of is always turn an odd number of times per day. Otherwise the embryos will lay on the same side of the egg several nights in a row which will cause them to adhere to the shell and will cause early deaths. Just a pointer

 

[aart]

First thing is to check your therms and hygros...and some other good info:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/


https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[hysop]

I used a still air incubator. I had my humidity at 45-50% up until day 12 then dropped it to 20% even to lockdown but will be doing a dry hatch next time. I had to compensate because air cells were too small for how far along they were.

Temp I left it around 99.5 to 102. It kept fluctuating. This next batch I will be keeping a daily journal.

I removed red vent plugs on Day 10

I had an automatic egg turner so didn’t have to worry about that.

Out of 21 viable eggs 16 hatched, one had problems and was put down. But 15 are alive and healthy and I think I got all females but one. The 5 eggs that didn’t hatch may have been males.

 

[Jan Croot]

It sounds good. You should write down what you do for this hatch, if you encounter problems you'll know to tweak your humidity a bit. Each bird needs different humidity so I'm trying to keep track of that too. Turkey and Peafowl eggs need to ebb on higher side of humidity, dark shelled eggs ebb on lower humidity etc. Plus it matters what the outside of the incubator temps and humidity are registering too; try to keep it close to constant.

I'm seeing too many losses within 48 hours of the move between the incubator and brooders --- which are at exactly the same temp. In our desert, the humidity is much lower. What have you found?

 

[aart]

I'm seeing too many losses within 48 hours of the move between the incubator and brooders --- which are at exactly the same temp.

Are these chicken chicks...or....?

Brooder should have a cool place too.
Do you get them to drink?
Here's some tips for heat lamp management:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-chick-heat-blurb.75619/