Expert help needed ASAP.

[Elohi]

Ok I'm setting up the incubator now that I've cleaned it all out. It's big and has a water tray covered with wire mesh in the bottom. I've filled a separate tray with vermiculite. It's all dry at the moment. No water in the bottom of in the vermiculite yet. For a babcocki I need how much humidity?
This hovabator has a fan in it and I have multiple gauges for temp and humidity to make triple sure of the measurements.
What next?! Here are the pictures.







Elohi(Earth)

 

[Elohi]

Would I be better off with a smaller dish for the egg? My friend says this is her best incubator of her 5. The most stable and reliable. I have it set for 87F but it's not ON with the egg in it just yet. Waiting on the experts before I start up.
@Greg T @Tom
Can't remember the exact user names for the rest of the members who incubate. I'm in the app so it's doesn't autofill with users. Not even sure the tags will work. Can someone please also tag the experts. Thanks!!


Elohi(Earth)

 

[StarSapphire22]

I don't know diddly squat, but I'm super excited for you! Good luck!!!!

 

[Elohi]

Does anyone have experience with this type of hovabator? Should I put the egg directly under the fan/heating unit or away from it for best stability?


Elohi(Earth)

 

[Elohi]

verm is damp and the extra humidity and temp gauges are in. It's set at 87F but the extra gauges are reading between 84 and 86.


Elohi(Earth)

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I put my eggs into a smaller container with vermiculite in the center of the incubator. Set it for 88 degrees, keep water in the bottom for humidity and keep the vermiculite on the small container damp. Keep at it until the egg either hatches or explodes...

 

[Yvonne G]

I take out the wire mesh and put my little plastic sandwich tubs directly on the floor of the incubator. I punch holes around the top edge of the sandwich tubs, add moist vermiculite and the egg, then put the lid on. You don't want too much water in your vermiculite. Also, put a little cup of water on the floor of the incubator.

 

[Elohi]

I've upped the temp to 88 because my extra temp gauges are still reading low.


Elohi(Earth)

 

[tortadise]

Try a meat thermometer. Just basic thermometers work best. I've tried all sorts of thermometers and get get numerous readings way off from one another. Also like Yvonne said she does, is a tub with lid. A lid is important for this type of incubator because the fan and heat will cause the evaporation of humidity through the small cracks in the incubator. Once the vermiculite dries out the fan will just make it even more dry. No problem with the fan models at all. Just keep that in mind few months down the road. 86-88 is good. 90+ is a bit warm so stick with mid 80s to high 80s. Should be good to go around 5-7 months from now.

 

[Elohi]

Will I not be able to pour water down into the lower tray during incubation? What about the verm? Would it be too risky to try and take out the verm tray and put in a dish with lid?


Elohi(Earth)

 

[kimber_lee_314]

I put my eggs in a container (usually whipped cream or butter containers) filled with damp vermiculite. Then I set it on top of the mesh (mine has the grooves on the bottom so without the mesh, the containers aren't steady.) I keep a dish of water in with it for humidity and that's it. Hope that was helpful.

 

[tortadise]

Will I not be able to pour water down into the lower tray during incubation? What about the verm? Would it be too risky to try and take out the verm tray and put in a dish with lid?


Elohi(Earth)

I would go ahead and set up a little tub, old butter tub or to go container from Chinese food restaurants usually work if there plastic. Gently move the egg into that and leave it be. It's gone through some movement already with the transfer.