What needs to be done before I hatch some chicks??? HELP!

[gumpsgirl]

My bator will arrive on Friday (Genesis 1588 w/ turner) and I am clueless as to what steps I need to take to get it ready to hatch some chicks! I will have eggs to put in it by Sat. Some are being shipped a short distance and some I am picking up on Friday which are being collected as we speak.

I know I need to have my bator plugged in for at least 24 hours before I put the eggs in to make sure temps are right, but what else needs to be done? Do I need to clean the bator first or not, since it will be new? How long do I need to let the eggs sit/rest before I put them into the bator and which side needs to be up? Will the bator come with good instructions on how to do this???

GAAHH!

I'm panicking here!!! I don't like to go into things blind and I would like to get some pointers ahead of time so I can be prepared! Thanks to all in advance for your advice!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Am I just being crazy?

 

[ginbart]

Can't help much but if you look at the top of the page here you will see the Learning Center. You can learn a lot there and keep reading. Look luck

 

[Vamp-A-Billy Princess]

I'm really eager to help since I just finished my first. I wouldnt worry about cleaning it. Are you gonna put em in cartons to hatch on day 18? You should try it. I thought it was great. What kind are you getting? Did you get something to check the humidity with? Make ssure that and the temp are correct. Once you put the eggs in it will mess up all your settings so walk away for a few hours. Put in a movie or something to distract yourself. then after you watch it you can check again. It takes a long time for the temperature to come back. Dont panic. It wont hurt the babies. I paniced alot. If you turn the temp up it may jump up and spike as soon as you leave the room (mine did that alot). Too low is bettter than too high. If you panic find me. I'm always on here.

 

[speckledhen]

No need to clean the bator, Stacey. It's the preset one, so just plug it in and put your thermometer in to be sure it does actually come up to temp after a few hours. Add your water, basically, just follow the instructions that come with the bator. And sit the eggs, fat end up on a table in a carton to come up to at least room temp before putting them in the bator. It usually takes about 5 hours at least, but you can let them sit 24 hours. I never do that myself. Listen to Ms. Vamp there about not worrying when the temp drops after putting in the eggs. It will come up when each egg's internal temp is up to the preset bator temp. Good luck!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Thank you Vamp-A-Billy Princess! I will more than likely be yelling for help before this is all over with!

Cyn, do I need to buy a thermometer and something to check humidity levels with or will my bator come with this stuff?

 

[Davaroo]

To monitor humidity youll need a HYGROMETER. You can get digital ones for cigar humidors for $10-15 off ebay, or the analog type for half that.
Your bator wont come with one.

The THERMOMETERS that come with bators are usually crappy, too. They are often VERY inaccurate and are prone to simply popping open, spilling their contents all over... dont ask me how I know!

Get a digital thermo of some sort. I use one with a remote probe stuck inside a water weasel. It's intended for aquariums and I paid $5 for it on ebay and $.88 for the weasel at WalMart.

Whats a water weasel, you ask? Here you go:

http://shilala.homestead.com/weasel.html

 

[MissPrissy]

Please get a hydrometer to measure the humidity in your bator. Too low or too high can seriously affect the development of the chick.