Incubator Setup

[mxrider42]

My first ever clutch of eggs was laid sometime today. I was late getting everything together, What should the humidity in the cage be with the mom and the eggs? I know I should have gotten all the kinks worked about before the eggs got here, but I was lazy. I am sorry. It will never happen again.
I have a hovabator, ranco, and hatchrite.
How much hatchrite should I use?
Where should my probe for the ranco and thermometer go?
Should I just put the thermometer in the tub with the eggs?
The hovabator has the wafer thermostat (correct?), what should I set it on?
And any other helpful hints you can think of.
Thanks
Trey

[Ginevive]

As I found out, hovabators need a secondary, backup thermostat to be safe. Mine spiked from a good 88 degrees, to around 101; it killed my first clutch this season. (it was actually a Little Giant brand incubatr; same concept though.) But I just re-read and you said you have a ranco; that's good.
I do not think I will ever use a hova again after that spike. I set up a styro cooler with flexwatt as a heating element and a helix proportional thermostat; it is ready for my next clutch.
Temps that people recommend will vary. The consensus I have found is 88 degrees. This leaves a little leeway in case the temps go up a degree or two, but is not too cool. Steadyness is the key though.
I hope that someone more experienced jumps in here. I would fear for the eggs now, because any changing in temps and humidity oculd kill them. I might even be tempted to suggest maternal incubation; you'd have to research the exact temps and humidity for that. I am sure someone will chime in; I was helped greatly when setting up my incubator after the hova bombed.

[elevatethis]

How much hatchrite should I use?

Fill your egg box halfway with hatchrite.

Where should my probe for the ranco and thermometer go?

Inside the egg box with the eggs. Like this:

Should I just put the thermometer in the tub with the eggs?

You can, just to check the temperature against the ranco, but, I would trust the Ranco's thermometer above an acu-rite or similar.

The hovabator has the wafer thermostat (correct?), what should I set it on?

The wafer is basically going to be inactive if you have a Ranco controlling the temps. You'll want to turn the hovabator at least 3/4 of the way to max, plug the hovabator into the ranco, and then the ranco will control the heat source, hopefully keeping your box at 88-89 degrees.

Hope that helps.

[mxrider42]

I had to order the hatchrite so it will not be here till tomorrow, then I will let the incubator run for a day, and then I will put the eggs in. I have the female incubating the eggs till my incubator is set up and running. I have the spot (warm side) where the female and eggs are set at 90 degrees on a ranco. What should the humidity be in the cage?
Thanks for answering all my questions.
Next year I plan on getting the GQF Cabinet for my eggs.
Thanks
Trey

[elevatethis]

Make sure you have you egg box in the incubator for some time before you put the eggs in...in other words, make sure the box is warm as well, not just the incubator...maybe I'm a little too careful, but it seems like putting eggs into a box with substrate that is room temperature isn't a very good idea....

[mxrider42]

I was planning on doing that.
Thanks for the pointer.
Trey

[mxrider42]

I got the incubator set up and running. I set the temps at 88 and it is staying constant. I placed the eggs in, but the eggs are stuck together. There are 7 eggs. What should I do? Should I try and separate them or leave them like they are?





Thanks
Trey

[AjBalls]

Leave them together.....