Brand new 'bator...some questions :-)

[PlumTuckered]

My husband bought me a Hovabator w/egg turner today *woohoooooooooooooooooo*

How long should I let it warm up before placing eggs in it? (just until it reaches the right temp or do we let it stand empty at the right temp for a certain period of time?)

I have eggs from a Friend that we brought home this evening, do they need to sit and settle before being placed in the 'bator?

What day do we turn off the egg turner? Should we just turn it off or remove it ?

I think that's it.

Michelle

 

[Larry Waughon]

I would run it fully set up for at least a day watching very closely before setting eggs.

 

[JewellFarm]

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I would do that or at least till the morning to make sure it stays stable and give your eggs a bit of a resting time. Stop turner and take out at day 18 then cross your fingers and stare endless hours hoping for peeps and pips, LOL.

 

[PlumTuckered]

LOL Thank you!!!
My Husband wasn't thrilled about me wanting a 'bator but he's been in there constantly checking to see what the temp is...this is going to be FUN!

Michelle

 

[JewellFarm]

Yep it is, and so super addictive!

 

[JewellFarm]

BTW you have absolutely beautiful pictures on your page.

 

[PlumTuckered]

Quote:
Thank you

Michelle

 

[Intheswamp]

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Congrats on the incubator!!! Which one did you get??? 1602 or 1588???

I'm not sure how many eggs you'll be incubating, but if you have room you might want to put some slightly warm water in a water bottle and place in the incubator for a "heat sink"...it will help stabilize temperatures. Some folks use babyfood jars, etc.,.

Inserting a piece of aquarium air tubing into the incubator so that you can use a syringe to add water to the water channels will help with keeping humdity and heat inside the incubator. Have the end inside the incubator down at floor level and the other end exiting out a hole in the side.

Have the incubator in a room with stable temperatures.

It wouldn't hurt to let the eggs sit for several hours or so, though coming from a local source they will not have experienced the stress and bad handling that shipped eggs receive thus the air-cells shouldn't be scrambled.

It is most frequently recommended to stop turning eggs on day 18. It is also recommended to remove the turner from the incubator and lay the eggs flat on the wire mesh or either hatch them in egg cartons with the top off and bottoms cut out. If you leave them in the turner the turner will be a sticky mess after the hatch.

Check your thermometer and synchronize it with a known accurate one. Also you need a hygrometer to keep track of humidity levels in the incubator. You can pick up a digital combo thermometer/hygrometer unit at Wallyworld, Target, etc.,. They do need to be tested....look at this thread for some info about testing..... Wallyworld Digital Thermometers/Hygrometers

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[PlumTuckered]

Thank you Ed.

I got the 1602, I wanted the 1588 but DH bought the only one available at the Co-Op.
The temp is 102, seems like we could get it to stay at either 90 or 102 so we're still messing with it to get 100.


Michelle

 

[gabrielle1976]

102 if its a still air is ok , Is the turner plugged in the turner will add a little heat . I usually shoot for 101 for my still air and 99.5 for the one with a fan.
I would let it run for 24 hours ONCE it gets to the temp you want so that you can see if and when it goes up and down. Once it runs at the temp you want try not to touch the knob.
Good luck and have fun.

PS remmber that once you get it stable and you put eggs in it its likely that the temp will drop for sevral hours till the eggs come up to bator temp NO NEED to touch the knob for this just letting get back to normal on its own