The Poultry Health & Hatching Forum

Advice please on hatching in incubator

Hi all, I have 24 eggs in a Brinsea 20 Advance, which i borrowed, it is now day 18, temp all along has been 37.4 fairly consistantly and humidity is at 45%,

this is my first time with an incubator, i have read all posts and am a little nervous, my questions are..
Should i up humidity now to 60% or 70%
When should i hear pips? btw is that chirping inside shell?
Should i stop the turning now or wait until day 20?
should i open vent or close vent?
should i never open incubator at all after day 18? even if i need to adjust humidity?

sorry for all questions but i am getting a little nervous now
Thanks in advance

tbol
Monday, August 2nd, 2010

1.humidity should be around 60%
2.about the 20th day onwords
3.yes if you want i dont and they still hatch but you must take out the dividers or they will get caught in it
4. the vent should be just under half ways
5. you will have to open the incubator to make sure both channels have water in them.

ps; best of luck

Thanks Tommy, will do,
by the way, i have both trays three quarters full, and humidity is now at 51% the vent is now closed, how do i up the humidity further?
thanks again

tbol
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

it might start to raise if you do not open the incubator to check eggs .it takes time for humidity to raise when you open .

The chicks will need more air circulating now also, open the vents.

Sarah F
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

thanks Tommy and Sarah, fingers crossed eh?

tbol
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Good luck!! It's actually easier tan it looks. Everyone has differing ideas on exact temperature, turning and humidity and yet most manage to get good hatch rates anyway.

Sarah F
Thursday, August 5th, 2010

How did you get on?

Sarah F
Thursday, August 19th, 2010