Why is everyone so different?

[harris farm]

I see so many different opinions on temps and humidity please what is the best overall temp and humidity for incubator and for hatcher for chichens and turkeys. Sorry but im going nuts trying to keep it somewhere then i read that is should be this # or that #. Help.

 

[ScissorChick]

Ofcoarse theres different opinions

Thats the point. You find whats best for YOU.

chicken eggs are supposed to be in an incubator of 99.5 degrees F. BUT, if it's

a little below or over that, it won't hurt. {sorry I don't know anything about turkeys}

Don't go over 102.F, and try to stay over 97 F. The clutch I've got in the incubator

have been incubated right at 95 F this entire time. All are in lockdown at the moment. The

low temps slow development down,(which does not hurt anything what so ever) So I'm

expecting mine to hatch late. Higher temps speed up develoment, which can

actually do some harm. Same for hatchers. Brooders should be kept at 90-95F

for the first week, going down 5-10 degrees every week for chickens.

Maybe somone

else will come along and give you the information that you need for turkey chicks and eggs.

ScissorChick

 

[harris farm]

sorry im just frustrated with the eggs i have in bator seems like they are all late but i didnt know it doesnt hurt to hatch late. anyone else care to vent or comment lol

i have a turkey egg that was laid on my anniversary and was going to name it annie or andy and it pipped this am one day late. i really want this one to hatch.

 

[perolane]

Well....there are so many varied opinions because we all live in different parts of the country (some of us in other countries) with different climates, different humidity, & lots of different incubators. What works for Joe in Washington may not work for Mary in Maine...even using the same equipment, because their climates are different...the place where they keep their incubator is different, etc.

I live here in Louisiana too...I hardly use water the first 18 days & then very little the last 3 days for hatching. The ambient humidity is so high that my problem is keeping humidity down....not up as most have trouble with.

The best advice I can give you is to learn YOUR incubator & how it works for you...keep records on everything at first & then keep doing what gave you the best hatches. Start with the basics & then tweak it to what works for you!

I can't help you with the turkeys, I hatch silkies & showgirls in a Dickey cabinet incubator. My temp is 99.8 to 100 & humidity is 35% to 40% the first 18 days using only a small cup for water....then I bump it up to 65% for hatching using a sandwich size plastic container for water.

99.5 is the target temp for forced air incubators (with fan) & 100.1 for still air (without fan). My humidity rates may work for you as we're in the same boat with humidity.

I'm sorry I could not be of any more help than this, but it really is a learning experience through trial & error.

Best of luck & we're always here to help if we can!

 

[aprophet]

with a still air it is real important to measure the temp at the top of the egg and not go over 103 the top can be 103 and the bottom 99-100 this is why a fan helps so much , to keep this layering from happening

 

[harris farm]

there is a fan in the bator ant the hatcher

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

With humidity, I find it better for me if I incubate at a lower humidity, around 40%, then hatch around 65%. If I keep my humidity higher than that, the eggs dont lose enough moisture.