What do you wish you had known before incubating?

[casportpony]

I also wish I had read these by @Pyxis

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Looks like I’ve got some reading to do before Christmas!

It’s a good thing my motivation isn’t moving me much farther than the couch today.

 

[Mimi13]

Looks like I’ve got some reading to do before Christmas!

It’s a good thing my motivation isn’t moving me much farther than the couch today.

I want to read all that too...right now! But I’m feverishly getting ready for a family Christmas get together this evening. My wants are really fighting with my needs today! I hate when that happens.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

I want to read all that too...right now! But I’m feverishly getting ready for a family Christmas get together this evening. My wants are really fighting with my needs today! I hate when that happens.

Family can wait....
Chickens are more important!
Right.?!?

 

[Mimi13]

Family can wait....
Chickens are more important!
Right.?!?

Exactly!

 

[WVduckchick]

I wish I had read this article by @WVduckchick:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

Thanks Kathy!

 

[WVduckchick]

What I wish I had known.... don’t believe every flake that tries to “help” you.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

What I wish I had known.... don’t believe every flake that tries to “help” you.

Hey I had some pretty great "flakes" helping me out

But one thing I will do different is if I use my Turner again I will be sure to mark the air cell end for easy reference to be sure I place them back correctly after I candle. Some of my eggs are pretty round and I did not pay enough attention to putting the air cell end to the outside of my Harris farms incubator. That resulted in the eggs not turning properly and I think is why I lost so many Cayuga eggs.
Also I will mark them with an X and O on each side as another quick way to ensure they are turning.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

While we're on the topic of humidity, I wish I had known that it is more important to measure egg weight loss than religious acquiescence to a set RH%.
Cheap hygrometers are worthless. A gram scale will insure correct weight loss and you can add or subtract water as needed. On average, the eggs need to lose about 0.65% weight per day.

I don't even own a hygrometer any more. I'll probably invest in some good ones if ever I'm heavy on cash again. With 4 cabinet incubators, I may sell one and use some of the money to buy 3 good humidor hygrometers.
IMHO, a guaranteed accurate thermometer is WAAAAY more important than any worry about humidity.
First of all, eggs will vary dramatically in their porosity and weight loss. Knowing humidity doesn't tell you how much weight they have lost.

 

[HuffleClaw]

I wish I would’ve set more than 15 eggs... when I’d only had a roo for 2 weeks (6 developed & hatched btw)