Uh Oh, Maybe I should have waited.... HELP!!

[Mom2Munchkins]

Ok, I am new here, and I guess I thought hatching would be really easy but the more I read the more I think I should have done some more research before putting my eggs in the incubator. I was just told you put water in the incubator, keep the temp at 99.5 and turn them 4 times a day, and in 20 days I'll have chicks.

So my incubator stayed at 99.5 for hours, and my husband got some eggs cheap from a friend of a friend. So I have 3 dozen eggs in there, and have been turning them and all. But now I am worried about the humidity. I didn't realize I should only have a certain amount of water in there. There is condensation on the inside of the plastic windows, is that bad?? The eggs aren't wet or anything.

ANy help is much appreciated, I am very new to this. I'm gonna be so bummed if none hatch.

BTW, this is a really cool place! I just stumbled upon it when I googles chicken coops.

 

[klf73]

condensation means your humidity is VERY high. If the humidity is too high then the eggs will not lose enough moisture and you won't have a good hatch. You really need to drop your humidity. A hygrometer isn't very expensive and just remember if you get one with a probe (temp/hygro) the probe doesn't do humidity, just temp, so the whole unit needs to go in. You need to remove water and bring your humidity down to about 45%, someone told me condensation meant humidity is over 70%(not sure if it's true)
good luck!

 

[mom4morecritters]

Mom2Munchkins

This place is awesome!

I'm hatching for the very first time in a home made incubator my husband made from following MissPrissy's design. My temp fluctuated and so did my humidity. Of the 16 eggs I ended up with (who didn't quit part-way or were infertile) all but one has hatched now! I really lucked out!

What day are you on right now?

I am far from an expert, but I'd say lower your humidity now and you have a chance.

Good luck!

Anne

 

[the_eagle69]

yes your humidity is high what type of bator do you have and

and good luck!

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

I just have a foam Little Giant. Honestly I didn't know there were other choices.... So should I take all the eggs out and dump the water? I am only on Day 2.

 

[L*A*G*]

Quote:
don't worry,

i have a little giant incubator and I am on day 6 now!
u should c three diferent water slots.

1) fill them all up with warm water.
2) then after about 2 or 3 days, start keeping the middle (bigest) 1 full for 6 or 7 days.
3) after the 7 days fill them all up and start over.

u can trust me cuz out of 6 eggs at least 4 eggs r GREAT!
the last hatch i did it diferent and 0 hatched.
hope that helped. and hope u get alot os chix.

~Larra~

 

[horsejody]

Is your incubator a still air or a forced air (does it have a fan)? Forced air should be 99.5 degrees. If it is a still air you should measure the temp at the level of the top of the eggs. It should be 102 degrees there.

 

[warmfuzzies]

You are really worried about evaporation from your eggs, that is wny humidity matters. I worried very little about keeping water in the pans, up untill day 18. I put some in if my humidity dipped below 35% to 40%. My air cells were right on target when I candled at day 18.

You really need to worry more about too much then too little at this point, from what I understand.

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

Thanks for the help. If I can get to Walmart today I'll grab a hydrometer. My kids will be DEVESTATED if none of these hatch. I have a few more questions... I know, I am a pain.

How can I tell if an egg is 'bad'?

How many eggs can be safely put in a LG incubator? I ask because I think in like 2 weeks I should put more in, just in case none of my originals hatch. I just really wanted SOME to hatch. The guy I got the eggs from told me his hatch rate is about 80% and that if I had trouble, to bring back the eggs that didn't hatch and he'd replace them. I mean, I didn't pay that much for the eggs, but I would feel weird going back for replacements if it's MY fault they didn't hatch.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP, YOU ALL REALLY ARE GREAT!!!!

 

[daisychick]

you are not going to want to put more eggs in a few weeks from now. They need to all be in at the same time. So if you get more eggs you need to wait until the 21 days are up on the batch you already have in. I would think if you get your humidity under control and keep your temps good you should be fine on the eggs you already have in there. Get a hydrometer and check the level before taking everything out. Then if it is too high just use a paper towel or something to wick out some water without taking all the eggs out. Then close the lid and wait and watch the temps and humidity. Then at about day 7 or so you could candle and see which eggs are growing good and which one are not. Hope that helps!