bought a cabinet incubator and want to do continual hatches

[dustponds10]

Well Like the title says I bought this cabinet bator and I am wanting to incubate multiple batches of eggs every week. Well one week apart I want to set some eggs so that I can get chicks every saturday in 3 weeks. This being the case what would you all suggest setting the temp. and humidity at? Thanks.

 

[Cranman]

Does the 'bater have turners? As each batch reaches day 18 you need to take the eggs off the turners and close up the 'bater for the last 3-4 days to try and keep temps and humidity stable. During that time it's not ideal to open the 'bater 2-3 times a day to turn the other eggs, that's why I asked about turners. Also I would think as each batch hatches you will need to do a little clean up, and with several other batches running that will be difficult over a several week period. I have two batches going but they are spaced 10 days apart. This way when I candle at day 10 I remove the clear eggs and add the next batch, and then the 2nd batch will be on day 11 when the 1st batch hatches, so we'll see how that goes. Good luck!

 

[Gypsy07]

If you intend to set eggs every Saturday and run continual hatches, I think you'll have to buy a second incubator, or maybe even two, to use as hatchers. Incubating eggs up till lockdown is fairly clean, but once they pip and hatch there'll be bits of shell and membrane, blood, poop and chick dander all over the inside of the bator, and if you're running continual staggered hatches you won't be able to clean and disinfect it properly. If you use separate bators for hatching in, you can clean them out after each individual hatch and hopefully your cabinet bator will stay clean inside. I imagine you ahould still shut that one down for a good scrub out every couple of months though...

As to your original question though, if it's a fan assisted bator, temp should be 99.5F. Humidity is something that everyone has different preferences depending on their own experiences and results. Incubating is anything from 20%-50% and lockdown is anything from 65% to 85%. If you were going to incubate AND hatch in your cabinet, I'm not sure how best you would deal with the different humidity requirements. I read a thread here recently where someone said for staggered hatches they'd had good results running at 50% throughout the whole process. Hope that helps you a bit...

 

[MTopPA_18707]

If possible move the eggs to another 'bator when you stop the turner on day 18.

Often people change the Temp/Humidity after day 18.

Having a separate hatching 'bator would do two things:

- allow separate Temp/Humidity for the eggs going into Lockdown vs the ones still incubating.

- keep the main incubator much cleaner as no chicks are actually hatching in it.

-X

 

[dustponds10]

Ok everyone thanks so much for all your input. I do appericate it a ton. here is a picture of the incubator I bought. It does have a fan and it has automatic turners as well. It has 3 turning trays and it also has a hatching tray that is screened and it has a pan for all the poop and egg shell. the dander is another thing it will get all over I am sure. I think I like the 10 day plan that was mentioned above. That is a better way to do it I think and thanks a ton for your input. In time I will buy a hatcher for sure but right now it was streching my funds a bit to buy this bator so I am needing it to work for at least this year. Next year I will really be hatching alot of birds. Let me know what you think as I am sure the pictures will answer a bunch of questions. Actually here is a link to another thread I started a couple weeks ago. It has the pictures of the bator.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=440772

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Those incubators are built to do weekly hatches just like you plan. I do in mine. Lately I've run mine dry when not hatching an about 70% when hatching. I think others keep them around 60% or 65% all the time.

 

[dustponds10]

Ok that is great to know thanks so much. I am really unsure waht I am going to set the humidity at. I am thinking arounds 55 to 60 but not sure. I better decide because I just set some eggs. Thanks all for all the great info. if you have more input please post.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
X2 there is kina a rhythm to doing multiple hatches staggered it is something I learned the last year. the best thing I ever read about birds was written by Dr. Leyland Hayes that is there are no rules only a few guidelines what works in the desert generally does not work as well on the coast good luck with your project and happy learning

 

[Gregorylm]

Well i have tryed several different humidity settings i hatch a lot of marans eggs and they come off each
week i have the humidity set at 50 % and it is working great if i go higher the chicks get stickie and
dont hatch well this also is not to high for new chicks and wont drownd them {gqf sportsman incubator }
Good luck with your hatch
Greg

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We started one of our Sportsmans up a few weeks ago and it will run non stop until about June when we shut it down. We run ours just like you asked in your question with weekly hatches. The temp is just a hair below 100F and to be honest I don't even check the humidity anymore. Ours has the self filling water bucket so I just let it roll. When a batch stops turning I add a humidity sponge to the water tray for the hatch then take it out afterward. Works like a champ and you will be knee deep in chicks in no time.

Steve