Posted by:
morphdepot
at Thu Nov 30 08:01:23 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by morphdepot ]
In my opinion from the pics it is clear that your medium is too wet and your container is smaller than is optimal. I would also suspect based on the moisture condensated on the eggs that your incubator might not be maintaining a constant temperature. It is far worse to have too much moisture than not quite enough.
My suggestions:
1. Make sure your incubator is maintaining even temps throughout and they are maintained within 1 degree (I use a proportional thermostat with good airflow in the incubator and maintain temps essentially constant except for when I open the doors).
2. Cut down the moisture content of your medium. I use a 50% -50% mix of Vermiculite & Pearlite. The Pearlite doesn't get as wet or "soggy" as vermiculite and the mix helps keep good structure and some "air flow" in the medium.
3. Use a bigger egg container and more meduim. If you use at least 4 inches of medium (50%-50% mix of Vermiculite to Pearlite) in a large enough egg container it is much easier to maintain proper humidity and much harder to get too much. While I don't recommend it, I have actually incubated eggs on top of 5 inches of medium where there is actually about a half inch of water in the bottom of the egg box with no problems.
4. One final thing. You don't have to put the eggs too deep in the medium. Remember that respiration occurs through the shell and can't occur through a wet shell. I put the eggs approximately 1/2 inch into loose medium.
Hope this helps.
Good Luck.
Grant
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RE: Incubation - morphdepot, Thu Nov 30 08:01:23 2006