Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Celtic Chick]

When are you expecting them?
Like Jim has often said, have your incubator set up way in advance & already running for a few days to make sure it is holding temp. & humidity. Then after you get them (mail?), let them rest for a day before putting them into the incubator.
Jim can give you much better instructions than I. Good luck!

 

[judge]

When are you expecting them?
Like Jim has often said, have your incubator set up way in advance & already running for a few days to make sure it is holding temp. & humidity. Then after you get them (mail?), let them rest for a day before putting them into the incubator.m
Jim can give you much better instructions than I. Good luck!

I am picking them up on Friday. I agree- Jim was a Godsend when I was incubating, and Delisha too! Last time I turned it on the night before to adjust the temp, but I am going to follow the advice and set it up a few more days in advance. I am setting them Saturday for the Easter Hatch

 

[jvls1942]

If someone were to ask me, I would tell them this:

start setting your incubator up at least a week before you intend to set eggs.. You can always unplug it after it is set..

you will need about 4 each 16 inch long duct tape..(duck tape here in wisc)

remove all water from the reservoirs etc..

dry the inside of the bator the best you can, and then put it all together as if you were going to set eggs.. turner included..

remove the two red plugs from the cover.. save them for the last 3 days of incubation.. these holes are for humidity control,, not for heat control..

tape the seams where the top sets on the base with the 4 pieces of duck tape..

turn on the bator,, remember there is NO WATER in it.. If you went ahead and put water in it, take it out and read all the above until you get to here again..

this is probably the most important step in preventing heat "spikes".. a term I never heard before joining byc..

let the bator run at about 100 F.. if it goes higher, let it.. all we are doing is getting all the residue moisture out..

once the humidity is down around 30% to 35% and stays at that constantly, (this takes time and patience) .. it might take a couple of hours, or a day or two.. don't cheat on this step..

Now,you are ready to set up your fail safe temperature:
you are shooting for 100F or maybe even as high as 191F I recommend the 100F..

with a DRY incubator, at a steady 100F and taped seams, now you will never touch the control again.. You may turn it to a cooler setting but NEVER turn it warmer.. especially with eggs set..

OK back to the humidity.. once the bator is steady at 100F add one ounce of water through the hole in the lid.. use a 8 inch piece of tubing with a tiny funnel attached to it..
push the tubing through the turner all the way down to the wire mesh.. this will prevent splashing water on the eggs when they are set..

the humidity should go up almost immediately.. the temp may drop..

pay close attention to both.. write it down..

one more important issue.. use only ONE of each, a thermometer, and a hygrometer..

using two or three and "averaging" the readings is to say the least,, stupid.. the explanation for this would take an hour of typing,, so just take my word for it..

this is it in a nutshell.. you are ready to set eggs..

print this page,, I am not going to type it again..

..........jimgoingtoplayfreecellforawhile.........

 

[Celtic Chick]

I am picking them up on Friday. I agree- Jim was a Godsend when I was incubating, and Delisha too! Last time I turned it on the night before to adjust the temp, but I am going to follow the advice and set it up a few more days in advance. I am setting them Saturday for the Easter Hatch

So you aren't getting them through the mail? That's good. That will greatly improve your chances of a good hatch, if they are fertile.

 

[judge]

If someone were to ask me, I would tell them this:

start setting your incubator up at least a week before you intend to set eggs.. You can always unplug it after it is set..

you will need about 4 each 16 inch long duct tape..(duck tape here in wisc)

remove all water from the reservoirs etc..

dry the inside of the bator the best you can, and then put it all together as if you were going to set eggs.. turner included..

remove the two red plugs from the cover.. save them for the last 3 days of incubation.. these holes are for humidity control,, not for heat control..

tape the seams where the top sets on the base with the 4 pieces of duck tape..

turn on the bator,, remember there is NO WATER in it.. If you went ahead and put water in it, take it out and read all the above until you get to here again..

this is probably the most important step in preventing heat "spikes".. a term I never heard before joining byc..

let the bator run at about 100 F.. if it goes higher, let it.. all we are doing is getting all the residue moisture out..

once the humidity is down around 30% to 35% and stays at that constantly, (this takes time and patience) .. it might take a couple of hours, or a day or two.. don't cheat on this step..

Now,you are ready to set up your fail safe temperature:
you are shooting for 100F or maybe even as high as 191F I recommend the 100F..

with a DRY incubator, at a steady 100F and taped seams, now you will never touch the control again.. You may turn it to a cooler setting but NEVER turn it warmer.. especially with eggs set..

OK back to the humidity.. once the bator is steady at 100F add one ounce of water through the hole in the lid.. use a 8 inch piece of tubing with a tiny funnel attached to it..
push the tubing through the turner all the way down to the wire mesh.. this will prevent splashing water on the eggs when they are set..

the humidity should go up almost immediately.. the temp may drop..

pay close attention to both.. write it down..

one more important issue.. use only ONE of each, a thermometer, and a hygrometer..

using two or three and "averaging" the readings is to say the least,, stupid.. the explanation for this would take an hour of typing,, so just take my word for it..

this is it in a nutshell.. you are ready to set eggs..

print this page,, I am not going to type it again..

..........jimgoingtoplayfreecellforawhile.........

Oh boy Jim- hope you are willing to help me again? I promise I won't keep you up so late this time though!

 

[judge]

Crap- I should get an egg turner huh? And should I get a fan?

 

[jvls1942]

Just do the set-up like I have it laid out and we will both get to bed early.. unfortunately, not together.. have to add that to keep the vultures away..

If I would have to choose,, I would choose the turner over the fan.. however,, both are great aids to better hatches..

.......jimstilllurking.........

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Zeke...

you just kinda slid right in there.... good for you!

Bf4m.... Sick kid and pooping dog.... good luck!

BBP.... If you have Windows on the computer.... go to "computer"..... "system" and it should tell you what you have. I think that's right, I've been using a different system for quite awhile now.

Jim.... printed instructions...as per your instructions! Just one reminder.... if adding a fan, it goes before the thermostat?

Got a cool egg yesterday from one of my "mutt" pullets. It's an "off white" with fine red speckles! I should take some pics of some of my EE pullets I hatched last spring. They have the cute little muffs and a "sprig" of a comb. I think they're cute! Storky is broody again. Wish she would have held off another few weeks. I'd give her some eggs but I'm afraid they may have gotten too cold. What do you think? In a unheated coop. I pick the up about 5:00... think they may have gotten too cold?

Night All!

 

[cuties]

Having more of a clue as to the "correct"(?) way to incubate, why wouldn't you?    I don't mean anything by it, I'm just curious. I'm sure your first time was strictly an experiment, but if you seriously want to start hatching eggs (taking the time to set everything up, the electricity $$$, etc.), wouldn't you want the best chance at success the first time around? If it doesn't work for you, go back to what does. Trial & error as you have said, right? 
I personally know that Jim is the absolute hatch master, hatching out umpteen different types of birds, hundreds of them per year. So if he has an opinion about incubating/hatching, I'm going to follow his instructions to the letter. But then again, that is just my opinion. I do know for a fact that every time I have e-mailed Jim with a question, he has been correct in his advice every time. But you have to do what you feel is the right thing.

Weren't there some people looking for SLW?
Silver Laced Wyandotte breeding pair - $35 (West Bend)
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/grd/3591738829.html

White Call Ducks - $15 (whitewater)
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/grd/3654697890.html

Thanks cc!!!!

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Son number two is

I can't call into work unless its me puking. My MIL is stuck with this one. I feel bad because every kid should have their momma with them when they feel so bad...