Unsecure chicken perches

[joza2210]

Well ,

My dad was talking to this man who has been hatching eggs for around 5 years now and he said he gets the best results if you dont put any water in the incubator until the last 3 days ...

Because its more humid in ireland

I dont believe this ... Should i try it ?

I dont want to risk it really ...

Thanks

Josh

[Redwing]

I dont add any water till day 18 either, its a common practice

[joza2210]

Does It Give You Better Hatching Rates ?

[Redwing]

I get a good hatch rate but I dont know if its linked to that, its probably more to do with the type of incubator to be honest

 

What I do know is that the only time I have fiddled with water before day 18 the chicks drowned in their shells and didnt make it out so thats made me quite cautious

 

Too much water is much worse than too little

 

With no added water my inccys stay about 28-33% humidity. I take it to 55% for hatching

[joza2210]

Ok ... Thanks ...

How do i test my humidity ?

And i forgot to tell you that one of my other wyandotte eggs had a crack in it and a dead chick inside ... Poor Thing

[joza2210]

Would This Do ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Exo-Terra-Disc-Hygrometer-Humidity-Gauge-/370122747108?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item562d08ece4#ht_2736wt_911

[Redwing]

many good incubators have a humidity reader built in - I'm surprised yours doesnt as I have a bigger version of it which does

 

Those disc things are good, I find them reliable but lots of other people dont!

 

This is more foolproof - you put the probe in the inccy and the reader sits outside of the inccy

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ExoTerra-Electronic-Digital-Reptile-Humidity-Hygrometer-/220321825602?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item334c344342

[joza2210]

No ... I think i will do the discs if they work ...

Because there is no way i could put the probe in the incubator with out taking the lid off

I will try the disc ...

Thanks

Josh

[Redwing]

You'd also have trouble getting the lid to fit with a wire there so thats a good decision Josh

[joza2210]

Just bought one ...

Hope My next batch gets good results ... So should i keep the humidity around 30% if i can till day 18 ...

What if it goes lower that 30 ?

Then up it to around 55% - 60%

Thanks

Josh

[Redwing]

loer than 30 is fine Josh, the natural humidity is just fine, add water at day 18 when you take the tray out and add some non slip flooring

[joza2210]

Thanks ...

And when i fill it up on the 18th day should i use cold or warm water and should i fill both of my small chambers up (Like it says in the manual)

Thanks Again Tasha

Josh

[Redwing]

slightly warm water is better

 

yes fill both chambers up