When to quit turning & setup for hatch?

[mvktr2]

I've seen a couple of post stating people quit turning their eggs at day 11 or 12. Is this practice okay? If it's okay to quit turning the eggs now then I would only need to open the incubator to add water every 3-4 days.

My current eggs are on day 14. I did a 'final' candle last night and could see distinct air sac, very thick/opaque growth with just a vein every now and then. I began with 15 eggs, 10 wht. leghorn 4 Delaware 1 mystery, and now have 7. 4 eggs were not fertile and 4 died in progress including 1 stinker... wheew glad I caught that one.

Any advice on preparing the incubator for the hatch at day 18. I have a homemade incubator with 15w bulb, cpu fan, & wire rack. I was thinking of lining the bottom of the bator with a trash bag to keep the gunk from saturating the styrofoam. What do you folks do?

Schlante,
Phillip

 

[KellyHM]

You "can" stop turning the eggs at day 12 b/c the embryos are able to move on their own at that time. However, it's best to turn them until day 19 and then stop.

 

[PaintedGemsRanch]

I wouldnt recommend the chicks hatching on a trash bag... they will slip around, causing splay/spraddle leg. Try using that kitchen shelf liner its kinda like a foam. As for turing I would stop at day 18 and get the humidity up and dont open the bator unless necessary.


Edit to say: Sorry didnt realize you had a wire rack in there... I wouldnt see why you couldnt put a trashbag in the bottom then.

 

[mvktr2]

Quote:
Sorry I wasn't clear. The trash bag would be lining the floor. The eggs/chicks are about 2" above that on a 1/4" hardware cloth shelf which is raised over the entire bator floor. I also was planning on putting down the kitchen material before hatching.

Thanks,
Phillip

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Normally you stop turning on day 18, and try not to open the bator until after hatch is complete and chicks are dry & fluffy!

 

[mvktr2]

Okay so I'll keep turning till day 18... no lazy incubating for me I guess!

Any ideas on best ways to boos humidity. I was having trouble keeping it at 60% and put a larger pan, aluminum 9"x9" pan, which just seemed to make the bator run cooler. I eventually took it out and went back to my original smaller plastic pan. Would aluminum absorb heat or something? I think I'll add another sponge to the existing pan creating greater surface area, but I doubt that'll be enough to boost humidity to 80+%. I suppose I'll try another plastic container.

Schlante,
Phillip

 

[PaintedGemsRanch]

70% Humidity is the max you should need. Too little humidity and you shrink wrap the babies, too much and they drown... I like to keep mine no higher then 65%, reason being when the babies start coming they cause the humidity to rise by themselves. I use a small glass dish with a washcloth in it. I place some aquarium tubing through a vent hole into the dish so I dont have to raise the lid if I needed to add water. Others swear by those shammies. What ever water you add to raise the humidity make sure its warm.