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

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Wanted to add that once the fist egg pips it's best not to lose any humidity, so probably I wouldn't open it after that. As long as it has a fan, it is likely drawing in at least some fresh air. If not, I don't think your chicks would have developed this far.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Oh my gosh! OH MY GOSH! It is 3:30pm and I have 3 pips, that I can see...some maybe at the back. I will keep everyone posted to the progress since others are considering one of these funny units. You can see everything, and that is amazing.

I read a thread last week when my two pip and zips did not live through the hatch....so I am planning on stepping in at hour 16 if things are not progressing. Does anyone have advice on that? I read between 12 and 24 hours for intervention...so I am sort of splitting the difference. I read instructions here that are wonderful. I helped my second pip and zip, but was too late.

We are on day 19ish-almost 20.

Happy Sunday!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Just my opinion.... And EVERYONE has one )D. I would not do anything for at least 24 hours after they pip. And I would be cautious even then. If you keep that door closed and the humidity right there should be no reason a normal chick cannot hatch on it's own.

I have intervened and been sorry more than once.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Also...hey!...there is a button here for a light! YOU CAN LIGHT UP the interior to see the action (as slow at it is). AND the tub that is about 5 inches long and 4 inches wide, maybe 3 inches deep (I don't think that matters as it is the surface area that influences humidity, but maybe deeper lasts longer for lock-down?) is holding very steady at just below 65%.

If I have pips can I stop worrying about air flow?

THANK YOU!

 

[ChicknCharm]

THANKS, Oldtimegator, that is what I was thinking, too. I just put up a general inquiry on that in this section. I do not know enough about engineering, but I am now trying to understand if we have airflow. That fan may cool the motor which is constantly running up and stopping, running again, to keep the temp up. Or could it just be circulating the heated air within the unit. I can't say....I need to go bug my engineering minded husband.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Ok, we have four pips and I heard peeps. Another post I made asking about airflow/oxygen says it is most important at hatching/pipping. Then, asked my husband and he felt those fans only circulate the air inside. The unit is purposely built to keep outside air out...to maintain temp. SO...now...I have called the Dad (as in my Dad) to come drill holes in the front of the unit...the size of medical tubing. I can tape them up or open them up.

Dad will be here soon....he is a steady hand with a drill (not so much me). Am I making a huge mistake? Any thoughts????

 

[ChicknCharm]

Sorry, could not wait. We drilled two holes about one-quarter an inch wide in the front top of the door. The eggs are positioned at the top. I inserted medical tubing through this. The unit is still working, but we cracked the first outer plexi-glass on window. Will not hurt function, I suppose...but looks a bit more like a home-made bator now!

We are still at four pips and I did hear peeps. I feel relieved on oxygen provision. Can anyone tell me if I did the right thing...does it makes sense...maybe....anyone?

 

[bel]

makes sense to me, both the GQF cabinet and the King Suro 20 incubators here have vent holes. If the humidity drops you can still put a piece of tape over half it. Every time one of the chicks hatch its going to make the humidity skyrocket so a vent is a good thing to have.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Hello Again. I kind of like this...now I can really hear some peeps. I put the clear rubber-silicone medical tubing through two quarter inch air holes at the top of the door. The tubes are long and I can bump the eggs with the tubes. Then they peep! So that is funny.

Humidity is holding at about 63% and temp. is holding too. Hopefully, I did not cause damage to anything.

Thank you, everybody. And (is there any end to the second-guessing), do you think two quater inch holes are enough? I have several inches of tubing sticking through to the inside of the unit as well.

 

[ChicknCharm]

7 pips out of 8 eggs....I think it will be a long night? Anyone else out there hatching?