jumbo coturnix eggs on the way. HELP PLEASE.

Alright well thanks for all the help. I think I got it figured out. in the last 20 minutes I have gone from 20% to 30% humidity, and I found my 99.9 degree mark (we'll see if it stays there) I think I'm just going to leave the thing on until monday when I get my eggs just to make sure it keeps it up. I'll play around with adding things to raise the humidity.

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oh yes deffinatly do leave i ton that way it's all set and you've got it mastered Good luck im excited for ya!

I'll post some pics when I get my eggs in the mail.

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kewl

On a hygrometer:

I bought three at a local hardware store and tried all three in the bator.

all three gave different numbers and were basically useless

the only reliable system is a wet bulb

My advice, where in the house the bator is placed makes a big difference in humidity. I used mine in the basement (in Canada we all have concrete wall basements) for years and had good hatches without adding any water to the bator.

If the bator is an a room without a window or direct sunlight, then
you should be ok to hatch in spring.

In spring, March through May anywhere, the moisture is high and you probably won't need to add any water. In summer when its hot and dry you'll have to add water. do add water when its time to hatch.

its better to be dry than wet, from a dozen eggs you'll get something at least

for a wet bulb: get a container you can fill with water and seal other than a hole you drill to put a small cloth through (i use an old spice container) : the cloth is wrapped around the base of the thermometer so that the thermometer (wet bulb) measures the rate of evaporation. I bought a wet bulb at a hardware store or you can order from many mail order places; they charged an extra $5 over the price of the thermometer and it was the same thermometer with a dinky cloth on it

good luck, Bert

For a wet bulb:

here's the Coles Notes for a big report from the Virginia Coop Extension from Virginia State University

Still air: 60 - 65% humidity will be 80-90 degrees wet bulb (with incubator temp set at 100 degrees)

at hatch time increase to 70-75% humidity (92-97 wet bulb)

here's where you can download the report

www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheets/8.html

again: in my opinion you are better off with a humidity too low than too high