4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[cochins1088]

I have both also, and have never noticed that. My 1602N holds the temp fantastic, even if I bump the lid around when cleaning a little and it holds great, even with a full incubator.

Thanks. The 1602N does hold temperature great, but whenever I put more than 24 eggs in it, I am unable to control the temperature. It took me 3 ruined hatches to figure this out. I filled it with 50 eggs this spring, and it ended up at 109 degrees on day 3 of incubation. I then replaced those eggs with about 40 eggs, and it did it to me again. I tried a third time with another 40 eggs, and it happen again. Disappointed after throwing out over 130 eggs, I tried one last time. This time with only 16 eggs and it held perfectly. It always held perfectly in the past years as well when I had 24 eggs or less in it. Also for my last 3 hatches each with 14 eggs, it held perfectly. Maybe if I would have payed for a fan, it would have turned out differently. I was thinking the cause of the increase in temperatures was the lack of air flow from too many eggs. The genesis has a fan, and seems to be overall a much better incubator so I think I'll go for it. I love the electronic thermostat. Thanks again.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Cochins, did you set the temp before hand, then give the eggs a long long time to come up to temp? The more eggs, the longer it will take to get up to temperature?? Or does the incubator overcompensate on its own and then not react fast enough when it needs to cool down?

I'm trying to be a good girl and not touch (smack, ouch! Keep your hands off!!!) the thermostat once I set the eggs. Right now, I have it going from 98.7 to 99.3 day and night (I've been keeping a log) I wanted to keep it on the cooler side rather than warmer... every time I try to up it a bit, it goes up to 100.5, so I figure if it drops in temp a bit, a blanket will take care of that. Hope I'm right!!

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

100.5 isnt bad. Even with my digi controller mine has a couple degrees of drift. Has had zero negative effect on the eggs.

 

[cochins1088]

Yeah, I always start it up at least 4 days in advance to insure a constant temperature. Then the eggs warm up as usual, and they all fried on either the 2nd or 3rd day of development. I'm still leaning toward the lack of air flow being the reason. Just too many eggs. It's starts just fine, but then the temperature just starts climbing and I'm unable to control. I'm hoping the genesis won't do this, and the 1602N still works fine, as long as I don't put too many eggs in it.

 

[TMNfarm]

Now you're scaring me!! I just bought the 1602N. I had it plugged in for several days and worked on figuring out how to control it. I plan on starting it back up on Saturday so it will be ready for Tuesday... I thought I was going to have a small hatch, but I just kept adding to what I am going to set, and I now will have an almost full incubator... I will be extrememly bummed if I fry all of my eggs!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Thank you I am saving all these cool emoticons!! That one is too cute! Good morning to you as well!

everyone!

 

[Pele]

Thanks. The 1602N does hold temperature great, but whenever I put more than 24 eggs in it, I am unable to control the temperature. It took me 3 ruined hatches to figure this out. I filled it with 50 eggs this spring, and it ended up at 109 degrees on day 3 of incubation. I then replaced those eggs with about 40 eggs, and it did it to me again. I tried a third time with another 40 eggs, and it happen again. Disappointed after throwing out over 130 eggs, I tried one last time. This time with only 16 eggs and it held perfectly. It always held perfectly in the past years as well when I had 24 eggs or less in it. Also for my last 3 hatches each with 14 eggs, it held perfectly. Maybe if I would have payed for a fan, it would have turned out differently. I was thinking the cause of the increase in temperatures was the lack of air flow from too many eggs. The genesis has a fan, and seems to be overall a much better incubator so I think I'll go for it. I love the electronic thermostat. Thanks again.

I've actually been really disappointed in my 1602N. I realize that I get what I pay for, but despite using lots and lots of tricks to stabilize temperatures, I always get wild swings whenever day 18 rolls around. I'll add water for lockdown, then keep my mitts off the temp. After 48 hours at 97 degrees though, I get nervous and nudge the temp up. Then it's a really exasperating temperature war while the incubator bucks like a bronco for no apparent reason. I've asked for a Brinsea for Xmas, and I'm pretty sure my hubby caved after he saw how sad I was at my last failed hatch.

 

[cochins1088]

I might be wrong, but I think it was from the lack of air flow. Not enough space between the eggs. If you're worried, you may want to invest in the fan. I was going to the other month, but then decided to just get a new incuabtor all together. Just watch the temperatures very carefully, hopfully you'll be fine. mstricer said that his holds great even with a full incuabtor, so maybe it's just mine.

 

[cochins1088]

I've actually been really disappointed in my 1602N. I realize that I get what I pay for, but despite using lots and lots of tricks to stabilize temperatures, I always get wild swings whenever day 18 rolls around. I'll add water for lockdown, then keep my mitts off the temp. After 48 hours at 97 degrees though, I get nervous and nudge the temp up. Then it's a really exasperating temperature war while the incubator bucks like a bronco for no apparent reason. I've asked for a Brinsea for Xmas, and I'm pretty sure my hubby caved after he saw how sad I was at my last failed hatch.

I'm sorry, I've never had problems at lockdown. Only with a full incubator, and even then, it screws it's self up in the first fews days. I'd hate to lose them at the last mintue like that. It seems that everyone one of the styrofoam incubators are different, some people have great luck with them, some run into defferent problems. Wishing you the best of luck for this hatch!

 

[SleepyOwl]

good luck with them! What kinda silkies? we have whites and splash!

It is a mix, probably mostly splash.




Thanks all for the ideas. I think I will just move them into the garage when I can't stand them in the house anymore. Then they should be ready for the coop when it starts to warm up just a tad outside. (By 'warming up" I mean it stays above 10*F or so.

)