Easy Turning w/out an Auto Turner...

[RockyToggRanch]

How often do you need to moisten the sponges? Ya know...I had heard someone mention tilting the whole bator before, but thought it wouldn't work with mine because of the wells. It never occured to me to use sponges! I wonder if I could run a little hose to the sponge and not have to open the lid?? I may have to give this a try!

 

[andehens]

Does it affect how the fan works? I counted 4 sponges do you add more at the end to up humidity?

 

[onthespot]

I agree that this will only work in bators with a fan that is positioned well and circulates the air evenly, otherwis you will have wild temperature fluctuations of several degrees F from side to side every time you turn the unit.

 

[UrbanMama]

I've used this with a still air and my Hovabator Genesis and both have been successful. I keep thermometers in different places around the bator and they've been staying steady.

As for the sponges..I started out with 4 but have removed all but 1. I wasn't sure how much humidity the cardboard carton would suck up and wanted to make sure there was enough (and it was easy to remove a sponge.) I think the amount of sponges would vary per person/bator and house. (Also with what you're incubating.) I generally have to moisten mine every other day or so...again, I just keep an eye on that hygrometer and just make whatever changes are needed.

 

[onthespot]

That's interesting and good to know. My (revised

) guess is that the eggs themselves work as tiny heat sinks and retain their temps, slowly releasing heat to the other surrounding eggs, which are sharing theirs also. I am thinking that the more often you turned it the less internal egg temp fluctuations you would get. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and tips with us.

 

[andehens]

since I don't have any fertle eggs yet, I'm going to go experiment with the fakes. I had read, and it was probably on here that I read it, that the motors on the auto turners wear out fairly quickly......?

 

[Akane]

That's what I did with the last batch of button eggs. Except instead of tipping the incubator I just cut another piece of egg crate and wedged it under the end. Took less than a minute to pull the piece off one end and put it under the other. I did it with a still air and just set the thermometer on the eggs with the end at the highest point. Then set the temp to 102 at that spot. The first one popped out exactly when they were due and the rest hatched within hours with only 1 dead. That one drowned when the humidity spiked and the carton ended up soaked. My best hatch of anything so far.

The first time I incubated I broke several button eggs dropping them on top of each other while turning.

 

[UrbanMama]

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I love hearing the science behind it! And you're probably right. It all started out of necessity w/ having the still air...and every time you open one it takes a while to get the temps to regulate again. Turning this way, there's no opening the bator until it's time to candle. (I usually moisten the sponges w/ a straw through the vent holes in the top.

Andehens...I have to be honest and say I love my turners. It's nice not to have to remember to turn the eggs at all! However, if you don't have the auto turner, this is the next best thing (my opinion)

So often, folks buy the LG's due to cost and availability...then have problems regulating them. Half of that problem can be solved by not having to open the bator to turn the eggs (and using a straw to add humidity). The other half by keeping them in a room that doesn't have temp fluctuations

 

[UrbanMama]

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Been there, done that...wow are those suckers tiny!

 

[Akane]

I think it's normal to have those temp fluctuations from opening the incubator. Hens do get off the nest when broody. I actually like turning by hand and opening my incubator 3 times a day. It lets in fresh air and only seems to help the hatch. I've also been told it takes 15mins for a normal chicken egg to actually cool at room temp so you are safe to remove and candle them for that long. I really don't think opening the incubator before hatching time does any damage and may even be a good thing.