Anyone else want to stomp on their incubator?

[Katy]

PC...you typed faster than I did!

 

[PurpleChicken]

I have to mention again that an empty bator is very unstable. You need
mass inside it to regulate the temp.

The Genesis is good because it has a pulse control that turns the heater on
in pulses, not on/off. Some bators, like the Little Giant (of which I like), have
heating elements that turn on, heat up like crazy, then turn off. The effect
is a greater temp swing. By adding lots of eggs, water bottles, even rocks,
you help prevent that swing. It just takes much longer to come to temp or
adjust. IMO you should run a bator for 3 days or more before placing eggs
in it, especially when having to adjust things.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Yes but your explanation is so much better than mine.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Ok, so honest opinion... I have been trying to get the incubator down from 102 (factory setting on mine according to 3 thermometers)
I have them full of eggs and the temp is now 99.2 to 99.4

I'm worried that it might go lower at times when I don't catch it.

Should I just return to the factory setting? Or just leave it for now?
The chicks hatched out 2 days early on the first hatch. All were ok.

I am confused.

Is cooler better than hotter?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

PC ,

Your eggs are so cute! Are they quail eggs. I noticed that the themometers said 85-87. Do quail hatch out at a lower temp?

I remember getting those toys for my kids years ago. I will get some for the baters. Thank you.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Purple Chicken,

Do you have a turner in with your Eco 20 Brinsea? And you like it?

I might get one of those if you think it works and regulates better.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Yup, those are coturnix eggs that I just placed when I took the pictures.
The temps are low because the bator was open for a while as I set it up.

Quail hatch at the same temps as chickens.



If you have the bator full of eggs and it's at 99.4 then just leave it.
I've tried going high and going low. High temps almost always meant
leg problems.

IMO Cooler is better than hotter.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I owe you one Purple Chicken! Thank you!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
That picture was my Octagon 40, a much larger and more expensive
Brinsea bator. I've since sold it and will most likely buy the Eco 20 with
turner once I'm ready to have chickens again.
(I had to cull all mine recently due to a disease)

I do have a Genesis that's currently at a friends house being used to hatch
Guineas.

The key to any bator is knowing it. Once you get the ins and outs of the
Genesis down you may never want another bator.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
No ya don't. I'm just trying to enable your hatching.

BYC is all about learning and then passing that knowledge on.