Hova bator instructions

I'v e borrowed a Hova Bator 1602N the only thing is I have no instructions. If you have one could you e-mail them to me. I intend to start my hatch day after tomorrow.

- Plug it in.
- Put a glass of water in there to one side (I find that to be much easier than the troughs on the bottom).
- Let it run for a day or so tweaking the temperature until it is running at around 100deg. I use two different thermometer/hygrometers in there just to be sure. (Make sure you have calibrated them for accuracy.)
- You really, really want this incubator to be in a stable environment. The first time I hatched with it mine was in the un-airconditioned kitchen. Outside temperatures were ranging widely. The house felt comfortable, but I couldn't get the darn thing to stabalize. I fought it the entire time. Round two was after I turned the air on. It worked like a charm with no futzing by me. Plugged it in and left it alone that time. Room temp makes a HUGE difference.
- Once the temps are running stable for at least 12 hours, put your eggs in. The temps will fall and get all wonky. LEAVE IT ALONE!! Let it self adjust. Gradually temps will go back to what you had it running at before the eggs were added.
- My humidities are not a problem as I live in the deep South. If you live in an arid place you might need more water surface area. The troughs are okay but they are hard to get at. During the early days a glass of water or a small ice cube tray will work for humidity. I do take out the ice cube tray before day 18 and fill the troughs. Make sure the water is hot before you add it. If you add cold water you will screw up your temps. The tiny holes on the top fit a straw quite nicely if you need to add yet more water.
- Leave out the little red plugs on the top. The increased air flow seems to help. I add them back on day 18 and leave them until everyonoe has hatched.

I think that's the basics. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

Here's the instructions

https://www.gqfmfg.com/pdf/Thermal Hova-Bator instructions.pdf

hth db

Thanks I printed them out. I do appreciate it. Apparently everyone doesn't hate stupid people cause I get so much help here, and no one says, Duuuh!

The instructions really aren't that complicated. Add water, adjust heat slowly, watch your thermometer and humidity gauge. I love the troughs in my hova. So much better than the tiny little strips in the LG. I never have to add extra water containers to the hova, just dump the water in the appropriate sized section of the tray to get the humidity I want.

I first added the glass of water to serve as a heat sink when I was having so much trouble keeping mine stable. It actually worked great for both that and for the humidity level. The troughs work fine too though. They are just harder for me to monitor because I cover the wire with the rubberized shelf paper. I do use the troughs at the end to up the humidity to 75%. The cup doesn't have enough surface area to be useful.

Good luck!

Sealed bottled water containers work well to stabilize temp if you aren't putting many eggs in or are just bringing it up to temp while empty. When my broody got killed and I needed my bator at temp right now I filled 3 water bottles with hot tap water and put them in the bator. It was at 98F 10mins later and the incubator heater picked it up from there. Within 20mins and a little adjusting it was at 100F stable. It is a useful trick. However I would only do it with sealed water containers unless you are removing them before hatching. Open containers of water on top of the mesh are a risk for drowning chicks. For humidity purposes it's safer to use the troughs or something that holds moisture like wash cloths and sponges instead of open containers of water.

RancherHicks,

I HATE "Stupid People" !!! I just am forced to tolerate 'em because I'm one of 'em.

I'll shortly be going through the same process that you are now. I've got a repairable hova-bator coming in the mail probably tomorrow.

I've already "failed miserably" at making/using a "homemade incubator", so I'm goin' one step up.....a repairable standard.

stupid is as stupid does. (Forrest Gump?)

Ha-Ha!
-Junkmanme-

Well I've already got too many chickens so this is just practice. I figure I can sell or give them away.
Most people share my motto: For free I take, for buy I look.

I'm sure you'll do fine, especially with all the people here rootin for you. I wonder if others feel encouraged by other peoples sucess. I'd cross my fingers for you but with my arthuritis I wouldn't be able to uncross them with out a pry bar. Love ya

I know whut ya mean about when yore distant cousin Arthur Itis visits. Seems like he'll NEVER go on home!

He always brings that low-life brother of his along to my place, "Ole Miyo Sitis". A lousy bunch of relatives THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!

Lotsa times, I gotta get "Ole Pred Nisone" with his "entourage" to come force them boys away from here for a while!

There ain't nuthin as BAD as "uninvited relatives"!!!!!!!!

-Junkmanme-