Just a few more days

 So I have done so much more research on the whole incubating eggs subject. Because of this new research I decided to buy a second still air incubator for the hatching stage.

Here are some of the reasons I decided to do this and I am going to also touch on a different method of incubating eggs called "dry incubating."


Ok to start off you want the temperature a stable 99.5* of the hatching incubator. I laid paper towels down on the wired bottom for easy clean up, but left the edges of the wire exposed. It will reach the humidity levels that are best for the hatching stage (it is advised the roll up paper towels and put them in the channels that are under the wires then fill them with water). It might take a couple of days but the humidity level should stabilize I leave one of the red plugs on top of the incubator out, just to keep the humidity from getting too high . While the chicks are hatching it will produce a bit more humidity but the levels should be in the range that you don't have to worry about the chicks drowning. You will want the paper towel moist (not soaked). During the next 3 days DO NOT OPEN the incubators lid. The reason for the incubator being a still air incubator during the hatching stage is sometimes a forced air incubator can dry out a chicken to quickly or even cause the chick the stick to the egg shell during hatching and as a result kill it.

Dry Incubating

 The reason many use this method of hatching eggs is the air pocket on the top of the egg can end up with too much water in it and drown the chick during hatching. For this method humidity levels should remain low for the first 18 day (until you move the chick to the hatching incubator) the humidity levels should not go below 20%, 25% is where you want it. I have found the easiest way to keep the levels low are adding just a bit of water daily (a teaspoon or two) through the red plug holes and keep both plugs open.

Something you will want to keep an eye on is the size of the air pocket at the top of the egg. If it is too larger or growing too fast, you need a little bit of humidity, if it is smaller (no bigger then when you started) you want to decrease the humidity.

On day 18 is when you will be bumping up the humidity levels. You want to to be at about 65% you can achieve this but the directions above.

HAPPY HATCHING

If you have any question feel free to ask.