Can I use a Reptile Incubator for Chicken Eggs (Reptipro5000)

[averytds]

My DH has one of those huge Coleman thermoelectric coolers and I've got a digital plug in thermostat with a remote probe. Now I just have to figure out how to make it disappear without him noticing for 21 days.

Hmmm it's pretty big. I wonder if the LG turner will fit?

I'm anxiously waiting to hear how your hatches turn out.

for everyone.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Hi Everybody: Our eggs are in their second week in this chicki-pro geek fridge. I have learned ALOT in the last three days. We have one LG bator going (borrowed) and two silkies on Australorp eggs. One silkie hatched 100% of her 7 eggs (ordered through mail none the less and coming to us in the middle of nowhere), the other has 2 hatched as of this morning and other pips I suspect. Why mention all that?...only because I am so green at candling, I don't really know what I see. I know a bright globe is a goner, but the ones in the chicki-pro geek fridge do not look so different to the ones in the LG bator and the ones under my silkies (which are now fluffy chicks). So, I am hopeful....
We will lock down on Saturday with a flat sandwich sized tupperware at the bottom for higher humidity. Next week I hope we have a happy hatch to report. My big concern remains the airflow.
Happy Hatching!!!!!

 

[ChicknCharm]

OH, and thank you to oldtimegator for that input on airflow, it made me feel much better. I am not sure what setting our unit is on, if it is "quiet" or "normal". I hope I am not doing something wrong!

And on the themometer/Hydrometer, I bought a simple one at True Value for under $10.00. It looks like something my grandparents would have up when they lived in Arizona. It is two large circles, one measuring temp the other humidity. Both are dials. It is easy to see in any unit and seems accurate. It does not register the right readings immediately, both dials slowly move up and then remain steady. It is cheap, but I like it. It is by Springfield. Just FYI.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Hello Everybody who is interested.
It is now day 15 of our geek-fridge repti-was chicki-now pro incubator thing. I have a new tiny LED flashlight my husband bought me (and I got a shovel, too). AND...it is AMAZING...all 8 of my frizzle cochin eggs (purchased here from a fellow BYC member) are developing and look awesome. There are veins all over the place, I can see fuzz up against the shell, and EVERY ONE WAS MOVING. EEEEEEKKKKKKKK! It is so exciting. So, they must be getting enough oxygen? I am turning 3 -5 times daily by hand so I open it up. I have them simply big butts up in the large scale gridwork plastic shelf that came with the unit.

I am really excited...this has been MUCH BETTER than our immediate experience with the LG Bator. Which had two chicks peep, both went under a broody hen who had eggs pipping, but only one hatched and survived. The LG is on day 23 tomorrow with 5 eggs in it still (above 60% H and temp has been right). I am not too hopeful, three did candle well, two looked incorrect at day 15 on that batch.

So, keep your fingers crossed...maybe this will be a good thing. I was close to abandoning incubators with the sadness of a chick stuck in its shell. I did read up on that (here) and found out what to do.

Anyone else using one of these hot-cold fridge things?

We will lock down on Saturday with a larger tub of water in the bottom. Good luck everybody.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Awesome!! Wishing you great hatching. Keep us posted.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Tomorrow is lock-down; I just candled again and can still see veins, big black blobs, fuzzy stuff, and movement. I put in the big sandwich sized tupperware and will watch humidity. When I tested last, this size brought the humidity up to 65-70%. It is a container the size you would use for kid's sandwich in their lunch box. So, I will not have much to share until about Tuesday. Happy Weekend to All!

 

[averytds]

 

[brkuk]

Good luck chickncharm hope all goes well with the hatch. I've been watching this thread cuz I want one too.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Hello Everybody:

I had to take out the sandwich size container for water, humidity was up between 75 and 80%. There was condensation on the window (lots of it), so I posted last night about that. I was told to keep humidity at about 60%. I was thinking 65%...I read up to 70%. Does anyone here have a good hatch rate with a certain humidity?

What I did was fill the one-half sandwich size container to the brim (what I had in there originally) with water and put that back in....it is holding at 60% on the dot since last night. I just need assurance that is enough. THANKS!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

That's enough for sure. I usually do around 55%.