Brinsea octagon 20 with automatic cradle

[dekel18042]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I have the eco one but without the humidity pump so I've read that you have to fill up the trays every other day or so?

I've used my Brinsea Octogon 20 many times and love it. Depending on the time of year and weather I sometimes add more water than others, at times in one tray, other times in both Sometimes none needs to be added. My last hatch I fought high humidity all the way through It was last month, summer and humid.
For lockdown to increase humidity I have small sponges I wet and put in plastic containers. These work well. Brinsea also sells some kind of paper (cloth?) you can wet and add to the incubator.
My Brinsea has given me amazing hatches,

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Yep take the incubator off the cradle and the dividers out at lockdown and lay the eggs down in the black tray.

On the cradle ~

Off the cradle ~

Your incubating ducks yes?

 

[abidaby]

Yes, Cayugas and runners. Sorry forgot that you hatched chicks! Can't wait to start, really nervous though. That link was very helpful, thank you.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Here are some threads on ducks ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Humidity+for+hatching+ducks+#
Humidity really is an individual factor depending on the conditions you incubate in. For example when I incubate in winter I need higher humidity in the incubator due to the central heating being on and the air being drier in the house. But incubating in summer like now I need it lower so the eggs lose enough moisture.

Here is a chart for you to check out ~

Good luck and I hope other members chime in on humidity for you

 

[abidaby]

Thanks! Just ordered the hygrometer. Do I need to order anything else for it? I've brought it second hand so does anything need replacing regularly that I need to buy so that I can replace it when it arrives. Also do the eggs have to be lifted out each time I refill the water? If so is it still ok to do this during lock down? Ahh I'm panicking now :/

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Thanks! Just ordered the hygrometer. Do I need to order anything else for it? I've brought it second hand so does anything need replacing regularly that I need to buy so that I can replace it when it arrives. Also do the eggs have to be lifted out each time I refill the water? If so is it still ok to do this during lock down? Ahh I'm panicking now :/

If it's second hand I would double check the thermometer is reading correctly. Here are some threads on checking them ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Calibrate+thermometer+#

Try not panic

You would need to take the egg tray out to top water up or you could fashion some tubing through the vent hole and the tray to fill it up during lockdown. Or just through the tray before lockdown. This would save you lifting it out all the time. At lockdown though you can fill the channels right up as the incubator will not be turning. It's the surface area of water that creates the humidity not the depth in the channels.

Here is the instruction manual for the Eco for you to have a look at before you get it ~ http://www.brinsea.co.uk/downloads29

 

[abidaby]

So my incubator has just arrived.. I'm a bit dissapointed as it isn't what I thought I was buying. It seems to be a very old model and doesn't appear to have a vent?!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I see :/

It seems to be the original version and of the octagon 20. I will just have a quick look as I'm sure Brinsea still do instructions for the older models.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

This is all I could find for an older octagon ~

http://www.brinsea.co.uk/downloads31

Can you post a pic of it from the front?

Did you tell the seller it's not what you were expecting?

 

[abidaby]

I haven't yet as I took those pics then had to take the dogs out. Thanks, they are the ones that I found too. I can take some more pics when I get back home. Oh no I have the eggs arriving on Thursday :-/