My new R-Com 20 incubator has arrived. (Help- esp. PrincessPeaHead)!

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

I am storing eggs from today, tomorrow & Thursday morning and then firing it up.

But! The instructions don't give recommendations for temperature or humidity - I have these in my 2 chicken books (but they are different).

What does everyone else do?

TIA - am out this evening.

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Perhaps there is an RCom website? Didn't think of that...

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Have been researching - so it's factory settings until day 19 and then up the humidity to 60%.

I've been reading PrincessPeas posts on PPF. Four labours, RCom 20 and no silver campines, I'd have known it was you even with a different name!

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Bumping for PPH (who I've just spotted).

Do the eggs lie on their sides? What humidity did you use for chickens? Help! I have no idea what I'm doing and the instructions are rubbish!

[PrincessPeaHead]

you don't need to set the humidity like it says in the books. 37.5 and 45% then whack up.
You need to soak the yellow sponge in water and then slot it in the slot
Eggs lie on their sides - press the "turn" button and hold it down for a couple of secs and check that they all have enough room between the slats to turn properly. I'd mark an X and an O on either side of the eggs in pencil so you can check that they are turning...

think that is all for my top tips!

oh - make sure you turn OFF the turning on day 19 - it doesn't do it automatically

enjoy!

[PrincessPeaHead]

ha ha! spotted on prac poultry. how funny!

PS sorry I didn't see this earlier

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Thank you. It's all very exciting. Marking the eggs is an excellent idea. Will also make note to cease turning at 19 days.

Mine doesn't have the sponge - it's the newer model and they've done away with the 'waffle'. It's default humidity is 55% - which I think is too high. I've emailed the P&T Poultry chap too so I'll see what he says.

Hope all your chicks & quails are doing well. Have you started duck eggs yet?

[PrincessPeaHead]

ooooh that sounds good! the sponge is pretty crappy
I think 55 is too high as well - mind you the natural humidity in this country is about that apparently and it doesn't seem to bother natural hatches... still, I'd put it down personally
haven't located any duck eggs (haven't been looking though - no time). chicks are now definitely pullets, and quails are fully feathered at 2.5 weeks old!

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

I turned it down to 45% last night and it's stayed there. Eggs going in now...

I want quail too! I've decided to put a wooden house with a built-on run in a lightly wooded area we have - was previously going to use land for pigs but DH not keen. He wants bloody alpacas? Pointless creatures. I don't do knitting.

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

I've candled a day early. All 12 of our eggs have black dots & veins. One or two may have blood rings but I'll check them again next week before I decide whether to chuck them or not.

And hope they don't explode in the incubator in the meantime.

[tortoiseSHELL]

Oh good luck duchess! I'm sometimes on PPF, as is Megalegs!