Mrs t eggs

[suttysue]

As some of you know I found my first ever eggs the other day.
I havenow made an incubator for them but I have a couple of questions if anyone can help
The eggs are now sat on vermiculite. In an polystyrene lidded box. I have placed a heat mat at the bottom then raised the eggs of that but near enough to feel the warmth.
The questions as follows,
1) How do I create the humidity?
2) Does the box need air holes putting in it?
3) How often do I CANDLE them?

I am waiting delivery of a new thermometer and hydrometer combined
I have taken some photos but can't fathom out how to post them in this thread
Thanks for all the help
Sue

.

[emma_mcraf]

I didn't have a home made incubator Sue, so I'm sure someone can answer better than I can, but I created humidity with a dish of water. The lid of the incubator can be opened daily for the exchange of gases and I tried not to candle too often, but that's up to you. I only candled every 7-10 days as I didn't like interfering with the incubator too much and risking the humidity dropping.

[egyptiandan64]

Emma is right that you get the humidity from an open dish of water in the incubator. A shallow and wide mouthed dish is best.
Holes in the incubator lid depends on how big the box is, how it's keeping temperatures and how it's keeping the humidity.
You can candle the eggs with a small torch shining into the egg from the side when the room is dark. No need to pick the eggs up to candle them.

Danny

[sandy]

Originally Posted by suttysue

As some of you know I found my first ever eggs the other day.
I havenow made an incubator for them but I have a couple of questions if anyone can help
The eggs are now sat on vermiculite. In an polystyrene lidded box. I have placed a heat mat at the bottom then raised the eggs of that but near enough to feel the warmth.
The questions as follows,
1) How do I create the humidity?
2) Does the box need air holes putting in it?
3) How often do I CANDLE them?

I am waiting delivery of a new thermometer and hydrometer combined
I have taken some photos but can't fathom out how to post them in this thread
Thanks for all the help
Sue

.

I have used a homemade incubator for over 15yrs and have had no problems.
To get the humidity, you need a wide container filled with water, sat along side the eggs and the container they are in.
As for holes in the top, I put a couple in, so I could put a thermometer probe through to keep an eye on the temps in the box.
As for candling, not a lot of point until a couple of weeks have gone by. As they can sometimes take a little time to get going. After that its hard not to keep checking:0) Especially as you don't really know what to look for. Once you see veins, you do know what to look for.
Chalking over is probably one of the first signs of fertility.
If you look at eggs when they are first layed, they have a pinkish tinge to them. Once they start to chalk, they go white.

[Suze65]

Here's some great pics, they might help.
http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=69659

[suttysue]

Great thanks a bunch I will put a wide dish of water in now
Again thanks.
I now need to try and post some pics
Sue

[Catwoman63]

That will be great sue, looking forward to seeing them x

[emma_mcraf]

Fingers crossed for you Sue!

[wks9362]

EGG citing times!!! Doooohhhhh sorry couldn't resist!!!

[becciwales]

Originally Posted by wks9362

EGG citing times!!! Doooohhhhh sorry couldn't resist!!!