EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[BullChick]

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I am getting ready to buy my first incubator, I'm excited! Just looking for helpful info ty

I love GQF incubators. They're very reliable, even the Styrofoam ones (hova bator). Definitely go with forced/ circulated air.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I am getting ready to buy my first incubator, I'm excited! Just looking for helpful info ty

Welcome to BYC. While this thread hasn't been as busy as in years past, there is a ton of knowledge here. Reading through the first couple pages will put you miles ahead in your endeavor.
I assume you already have chickens or other poultry?
Where are you located?
I agree with @OneMountainAcres about the value of the forced air feature. An automatic turner will save a ton of time and will improve results.
DO NOT trust the temperature reading on any incubator or thermometer out of the box until it is verified/calibrated.
Temperature off by a couple degrees can doom a hatch.
For years, I recommended the Brinsea Spot Check (bought from Brinsea so you know it is authentic as there have been knockoffs). It is accurate to within ± 0.2ºF (0.111...C)
Spot Check Digital Incubator Thermometer (brinsea.com)
I also love the speed and precision of the calibratable thermoworks RT301WA. Mine hasn't needed calibration. Accurate to ±0.9°F (0.5C).
https://www.thermoworks.com/RT301WA
The newest one I recommend if you have a smart phone is the Govee Bluetooth H5074 thermometer/hygrometer. Both features are incredibly accurate.
https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Bluetooth-Temperature/dp/B07R586J37
It is Swiss made and is accurate to ±0.54°F(0.3C) and humidity is ±3%RH.

Use your best prognostication skills and try to project what your goals and future flock wants and needs will be and let that guide your incubator choice. For instance will you want to hatch 10 eggs or 100 at a time? The price is sometimes daunting but a good quality incubator will pay for itself in that your failure rate will be disproportionate to the quality of the incubator.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm moving the last of my 2020 hatches outside today. I'll probably start setting again around the middle to end of January.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Everyone please wear a mask. It will be the difference between 400,00 dead by March or 600,000 dead.
And no travel till the vaccination rate is significant.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=384904412591377

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Respect!
My niece is one of them! a leutent a Deputy Company Commander!

I once dated a woman here who had been in the Israeli army. That was about 40 years ago.
She had dual citizenship.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Check for your place in line for the vaccine.

Opinion | When Can I Get a Coronavirus Vaccine in America? - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

[Akrnaf2]

I once dated a woman here who had been in the Israeli army. That was about 40 years ago.
She had dual citizenship.

I am married to one

 

[Widow acre farm]

Welcome to BYC. While this thread hasn't been as busy as in years past, there is a ton of knowledge here. Reading through the first couple pages will put you miles ahead in your endeavor.
I assume you already have chickens or other poultry?
Where are you located?
I agree with @OneMountainAcres about the value of the forced air feature. An automatic turner will save a ton of time and will improve results.
DO NOT trust the temperature reading on any incubator or thermometer out of the box until it is verified/calibrated.
Temperature off by a couple degrees can doom a hatch.
For years, I recommended the Brinsea Spot Check (bought from Brinsea so you know it is authentic as there have been knockoffs). It is accurate to within ± 0.2ºF (0.111...C)
Spot Check Digital Incubator Thermometer (brinsea.com)
I also love the speed and precision of the calibratable thermoworks RT301WA. Mine hasn't needed calibration. Accurate to ±0.9°F (0.5C).
https://www.thermoworks.com/RT301WA
The newest one I recommend if you have a smart phone is the Govee Bluetooth H5074 thermometer/hygrometer. Both features are incredibly accurate.
https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Bluetooth-Temperature/dp/B07R586J37
It is Swiss made and is accurate to ±0.54°F(0.3C) and humidity is ±3%RH.

Use your best prognostication skills and try to project what your goals and future flock wants and needs will be and let that guide your incubator choice. For ionstance will you want to hatch 10 eggs or 100 at a time? The price is sometimes daunting but a good quality incubator will pay for itself in that your failure rate will be disproportionate to the quality of the incubator.

Thank you for the helpful info!! I am in upstate NY, and I currently have 17 chickens.

 

[BullChick]

Thank you for the helpful info!! I am in upstate NY, and I currently have 17 chickens.

Do you bake? There are a few threads you can join.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/any-home-bakers-here.921333/