An Inquiry about Incubation

[Jchantecler]

Hi there!

I'm looking to hatch out some rhea eggs this coming spring. Unfortunately, I have little experience with ratite incubation, and have a quick question about the incubator necessary. Most resources I've found seem to recommend a cabinet incubator, or at least one of the more expensive digital table-top models. Having only artificially incubated birds like ducks and chickens in the past, I've been fine with one of the cheaper, "Strongman" Styrofoam tabletop models. As long as I carefully regulate it, I'm hoping such an incubator would work for a rhea egg, but I'm unsure. Has anyone had success with the less expensive models? Thanks.

 

[yinepu]

Hi there!

I'm looking to hatch out some rhea eggs this coming spring. Unfortunately, I have little experience with ratite incubation, and have a quick question about the incubator necessary. Most resources I've found seem to recommend a cabinet incubator, or at least one of the more expensive digital table-top models. Having only artificially incubated birds like ducks and chickens in the past, I've been fine with one of the cheaper, "Strongman" Styrofoam tabletop models. As long as I carefully regulate it, I'm hoping such an incubator would work for a rhea egg, but I'm unsure. Has anyone had success with the less expensive models? Thanks.

I've hatched emu in everything from a modified LG to a coolerbator.. so long as they have headroom and room to break out of the shell they should be fine

 

[Gaiser Ranch]

I noticed in your brinsea you had a jar of water, what is it for? I have 2 eggs I will be putting in mine like this, but it is the one with the humidity pump. Any suggestions?

 

[yinepu]

I noticed in your brinsea you had a jar of water, what is it for? I have 2 eggs I will be putting in mine like this, but it is the one with the humidity pump. Any suggestions?

I used jars of water as heat sinks.. helps avoid any low temp swings.. btw.. those Brinseas were nightmares to deal with.. lots of lemons in the ones I bought (and I had bought way too many of them)... they now reside at the local dump..

also there isn't enough headroom in a Brinsea for emu hatching.. which is just another reason why I prefer the other incubators!

 

[Jchantecler]

I was just looking at your modified LG, very neat idea. What materials did you use to extend it?

 

[mbgurczenski]

were you able to hatch emus in the brinsea?

 

[Calla]

I have hatched loads of Rhea and Emu eggs very successfully in my Brinsea octafon....20 and 40 ..both have a built in waterwell at base and just need topping up as it gets low...and could leave hatched birds till they are dry comfortably. Once they try to stand up I have a 5x 2ft run ready in my room with heatlamp....and watch them like a hawk lol they are just so wonderful to see them in this (awful ) world.
Calla

 

[Gaiser Ranch]

What temp/humidity in the Brinsea?

 

[yinepu]

I was just looking at your modified LG, very neat idea. What materials did you use to extend it?

I used silver tape made for duct work (it's not duct tape.. but the stuff that's very shiney and easy to tear.. but also super sticky) and foam core board insulation.. it looks like styrofoam with a silver paper attached.. super easy to cut with a razor blade knife which makes modifying an incubator with it very easy

 

[Jchantecler]

Thanks for the information, I'll most likely be doing just that. One thing that has tripped me up a bit is the fact that my LG, with a fan, insists ALL eggs should be incubated at 99.5 in it. This seems silly to me when it varies so much in the wild. When reading one of your posts, I saw you prefer 95.5 for emu eggs. I'm fairly certain the instructions aren't taking into account that ratites may be hatched in it.