Utah!

[Cynthia12]

Did you add the water during incubation or do you mean during lockdown? Did you only fill the 1 well once, or kept it full the whole time?

During incubation, I kept water in the one well..the whole time. During lock down, I had to add a lot of water to get it up to where I wanted it. All the wells filled, plus a couple of sponges..this was with the still air Little Giant. Around 62.

 

[Cynthia12]

Ok thanks so much! I guess I just wasent sure if I should add the water as directed or do a dry hatch instead because I was reading reviews from ppl who were saying that by filling the chamber it was producing way too much humidity for such a little bator. But if it's been working just fine for you then I'll do it. So have you been just filling one of the chambers all the way full and just topping it off before it goes empty and then fill both chambers at lockdown? And have you bothered with checking the humidity or you just keep it filled with water all the time and it's been fine? I was told the humidity should stay in the 30s but some peoples reviews were saying that when they filled the chamber it was going up to 80-90s and fogging the inside. So I wasent sure what I'm suppose to do besides maybe try to somehow fit one of the temp/hydro meters in there so I can keep the humidity around 30. This is my first try hatching and I guess I'm just nervous I'm going to do something wrong and get a bad hatch.

Doing 30% is considered doing a dry hatch.

 

[Cynthia12]

Darn the feet sores! Hope she heals super fast, sounds like she already is. Congrats on the new birds! Hey has your White Turken EE started laying yet? Mine is squatting, hoping for a blue or green egg, wondering if you get a colored one

I have white feathers all over the place, pretty sure they are hers. I usually see that just before they start laying. Usually still a ways off. She is getting pretty pink in the comb, I love the size of her, just right. My last NN was huge. Brian has her now, and says that she lays double yolkers often, not even real large eggs, just a lot of double yolkers. I am also hoping that this white gal I got from you will lay a colored egg.

Her voice is just now sounding like a duck. You know how they sound when their voices change? Maybe she will just always sound like a duck. lol..She sure is pretty.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

During incubation, I kept water in the one well..the whole time.   During lock down, I had to add a lot of water to get it up to where I wanted it. All the wells filled, plus a couple of sponges..this was with the still air Little Giant.    Around 62. 

Oh ok so you still added some water then to make it around 30? I wasent sure if keeping it 30 meant totally dry or some water. At lockdown did you just toss 3-4 sponges in the chambers ? I've heard of ppl filling baby food jars of water and sticking sponge in it and putting in the incubator. Just trying to get a good feel for how much water it'll actually be needing cause I'll wanna hurry when it's lockdown time so the eggs don't get cold. I'm also worried about having the humidity too high after I've already locked them down.. I tend to worry a lot I know, but it's mostly with things ive never done before. I won't be this crazy the second try around lol

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh ok so you still added some water then to make it around 30? I wasent sure if keeping it 30 meant totally dry or some water. At lockdown did you just toss 3-4 sponges in the chambers ? I've heard of ppl filling baby food jars of water and sticking sponge in it and putting in the incubator. Just trying to get a good feel for how much water it'll actually be needing cause I'll wanna hurry when it's lockdown time so the eggs don't get cold. I'm also worried about having the humidity too high after I've already locked them down.. I tend to worry a lot I know, but it's mostly with things ive never done before. I won't be this crazy the second try around lol

You can get too high in humidity..like I said, 62 is a good number, then if your hydrometer is off, a couple of degrees shouldn't matter. I had to put a couple of sponges in mine. You have a different bator. I never even worried about opening my bator on day 19 to adjust the humdity..see..one of those things people would say..what?! But by the end of the day you should have the humidity where you want it. Then leave them alone after that. You don't..want..condensation on the windows. That means, you have too much water in there.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

You can get too high in humidity..like I said, 62 is a good number, then if your hydrometer is off, a couple of degrees shouldn't matter.   I had to put a couple of sponges in mine.  You have a different bator.  I never even worried about opening my bator on day 19 to adjust the humdity..see..one of those things people would say..what?!   But by the end of the day you should have the humidity where you want it.  Then leave them alone after that.  You don't..want..condensation on the windows.  That means, you have too much water in there. 

I was planning to use both the still air and Amanda was going to lend me her brinsea but she told me her husbands friend dropped it and it's not working so I guess I am using only the still air, which is why I'm trying to get as many pointers from you as possible. Did you put the eggs fat end up in the egg turner? And just take it out and place them on paper towels over the wire during lockdown? Did you wait till day 18 or 19 to put them on lockdown? I'm going to pick up the bator in a few hrs and then get one of those temp/hydro readers at walmart and then play around with it. Should I turn it on and let it adjust where it needs to be so that it's ready to go when eggs get here. He's not sending them out till Monday. Everyone keeps telling me I'll be lucky to get half to hatch with shipped eggs. Was this the case with you?

 

[RedIII]

Lisa, Cynthia, how exciting on your NN's! I'm curious to see what color of egg they'll lay now, too. Cynthia, glad you got your girl's foot cleaned out. I had a white Leghorn once that had bumble foot, too.

Cathie, so sorry about your loss! Sounds like a coon to me. I hate those things! I've only ever met one that I liked. They are just too inquisitive with things like doors and fencing.

I am now on a mission to procure a turkey hen for my bronze hen so she has a buddy. She's so depressed out there. Poor thing needs a female buddy to talk girl talk, I guess. If anyone knows someone selling a heritage breed turkey hen, I would appreciate you giving me a holler I'm in Tooele.

 

[themadchicken]

I got the Mini because i don't have time for humidity levels. just keep water in one until lock down. As long as there is water the humidity dose not change. The level does not change with how full the reservoir is because the size of the surface does not change.

Look what i traded for a silkie chick this morning. 5 months old. Very talkative. Cant wait to see how the chicks look!

 

[sundancenbare]

I got the Mini because i don't have time for humidity levels. just keep water in one until lock down. As long as there is water the humidity dose not change. The level does not change with how full the reservoir is because the size of the surface does not change.

Look what i traded for a silkie chick this morning. 5 months old. Very talkative. Cant wait to see how the chicks look!

very pretty what is it

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I got the Mini because i don't have time for humidity levels. just keep water in one until lock down. As long as there is water the humidity dose not change. The level does not change with how full the reservoir is because the size of the surface does not change.

Look what i traded for a silkie chick this morning. 5 months old. Very talkative. Cant wait to see how the chicks look!

Nice looking bird, love the colors