Did you see the Octagon on sale for $99?

[ZephyrWoodsFarm]

So of all the incubators out there for a SMALL time breeder this would be the best incubator? And adding a turner would be a good option as I work? Any other requirements needed? How often do you put water into them? I am looking at hatching Orpingtons (my favorite breed).

Just starting out again with chickens and of course want to hatch

I had a cheap Fleet Farm incubator before and did hatch well. Had it in the basement where the temperature didn't change much.


Any advice is always AWESOME!!!

 

[wegotchickens]

I think this one is mostly fool-proof. If you are hatching your own eggs, and the bator is in the basement, then you'll add water about every 3rd day or so. It's been my observation that home eggs are less picky than shipped eggs.

I work, tried without the turner, and then got a turner. I love it. And I obsess less obsessively than I used to, when it comes to checking on the eggies as they cook.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
I want to point out that different climates require different amounts of water and frequency. As an example I live in the desert and I have to add water twice a day. People that live in humid climates, not so much.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
I want to point out that different climates require different amounts of water and frequency. As an example I live in the desert and I have to add water twice a day. People that live in humid climates, not so much.

I was figuring that in WI she'd be closer to my humidity level.

Wow. Twice a day.

There have been times I totally forgot and hatched birds in a dry bator...

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I want to point out that different climates require different amounts of water and frequency. As an example I live in the desert and I have to add water twice a day. People that live in humid climates, not so much.

I was figuring that in WI she'd be closer to my humidity level.

Wow. Twice a day.

There have been times I totally forgot and hatched birds in a dry bator...

I do that a lot, I've come to realize that humidity isn't all that it's cracked up to be, at least not for me. I recently hatched a duckling in the 'incubating' incubator...the one that I never add water to that keeps 25%-30% humidity. So the duckling hatched with 25% humidity with no problems at all. In the summer it is usually very humid here, but this time of year it is super dry.

If I remember to move the eggs to that hatching incubator (I'm good at forgetting

) they get about 50%-60% humidity, IF I remember to move them

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Anyone hatch in winter up north? I'm nervous that I won't be able to let it be idle when I get it.

By the way, I told my sister today that I got the incubator. She says "don't you already have like 50 chickens?" (no, 33... and I didn't say something similar to you when you told me you were pregnant, again!)

 

[shelleyd2008]

I just today set some duck eggs. I'm kind of 'up north' I guess, southern KY. It gets cold here but not as cold as it did growing up in northern IN!

 

[xyresicchick]

how many eggs does it fit?

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
I can fit 30+ d'Uccle eggs into it, much to DH's dismay....

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
I want to point out that different climates require different amounts of water and frequency. As an example I live in the desert and I have to add water twice a day. People that live in humid climates, not so much.

I was figuring that in WI she'd be closer to my humidity level.

Wow. Twice a day.

There have been times I totally forgot and hatched birds in a dry bator...

Yes, me forgetting for two days is how Elmer was glued in her egg.