Well, since no one else seemed to make one, I decided to. I'm not sure I'm really the "right" person to do so, since so far, I seem to be doing so many things the "wrong" way.
But my new incubator arrived and I've set 36 eggs for a February 11 expected hatch date.
So why do I think I might be doing things so wrong? WELP. First, it turns out I purchased a still air instead of the forced air, incubator I was wanting (how DID i miss that?). Then second, it has a wafer thermostat, which I've been told since I purchased it, are the most unreliable ones.... Hmmm... Third, it didn't even have any way to measure for humidity - "no worries", I've been told - just order hygrometer and put it in there. (I have - though not one of the ones I was recommended to, yet). And fourth - I didn't candle or weigh the eggs when I started.
You may be asking why I didn't candle or weigh the eggs - well - a couple of reasons. 1 - I didn't have a candler when I got the incubator and when I appeared to have gotten the temps stable, I went ahead and put in the egg turner and the eggs. 2 - I didn't weight them either as my scale is large enough to weigh mature birds and rabbits but doesn't go quite small enough to measure a single egg. SO. I've sweated and I was worried. I did get a separate thermometer and a hygrometer - the kinds meant for reptile cages, but they appear, for now to be working. 3 - I had the collected the first eggs a week earlier and decided it was either just go ahead and start incubating or scrap them, wait till this cold spell clears out and collect new ones. I decided to just start.
It either works or it doesn't. Speaking with two breeders whom I've gotten chicks from - 1 started the exact same way I did and is now using cabinet incubators and selling almost commercially - a lot of birds. So I relaxed after discussing things with him. Then, speaking with the 2nd breeder - she also started with minimal input - also now using a cabinet incubator and should be getting a separate, larger hatcher. In fact - her comment was "why would you want to take a chance on dropping or otherwise "injuring" your eggs by candling throughout the incubation process? I've had lots of luck, no real issues (except one when we had a power spike during a storm and my eggs all actually exploded in the incubator - that was nasty!!)..." - again, I took a deep breath and decided this first time - that's just what I'll do - leave them alone. I'll get what I get. These are first time pullet eggs - all the birds literally JUST started laying in December, so...
According to the thermometers, the temps are holding nicely at just under 100*. The humidity is probably higher than I should have had it (around 47%) - he said I probably should have started with 0 water in my incubator and then put water in for the actual hatch during lockdown. O, well. After checking the humidity again this afternoon, I may drain water out of that first tray (not sure how, though w/o a major temp drop...).
I got the Hovabator 1602n and have the egg turner in it. I did find an electronic thermostat and a fan that will fit in this and will upgrade it when this hatch is over and before doing the next one. Already thinking seriously about getting another incubator and could see easily running more than that (OMG - is there something wrong with me? I already have LOTS of chickens - do I REALLY need that many more?).
** edited to add** - OOPS, was going to add tags. I don't think I've ever started my own thread before... I don't see how to add tags after the thread is set up.
But my new incubator arrived and I've set 36 eggs for a February 11 expected hatch date.
So why do I think I might be doing things so wrong? WELP. First, it turns out I purchased a still air instead of the forced air, incubator I was wanting (how DID i miss that?). Then second, it has a wafer thermostat, which I've been told since I purchased it, are the most unreliable ones.... Hmmm... Third, it didn't even have any way to measure for humidity - "no worries", I've been told - just order hygrometer and put it in there. (I have - though not one of the ones I was recommended to, yet). And fourth - I didn't candle or weigh the eggs when I started.
You may be asking why I didn't candle or weigh the eggs - well - a couple of reasons. 1 - I didn't have a candler when I got the incubator and when I appeared to have gotten the temps stable, I went ahead and put in the egg turner and the eggs. 2 - I didn't weight them either as my scale is large enough to weigh mature birds and rabbits but doesn't go quite small enough to measure a single egg. SO. I've sweated and I was worried. I did get a separate thermometer and a hygrometer - the kinds meant for reptile cages, but they appear, for now to be working. 3 - I had the collected the first eggs a week earlier and decided it was either just go ahead and start incubating or scrap them, wait till this cold spell clears out and collect new ones. I decided to just start.
It either works or it doesn't. Speaking with two breeders whom I've gotten chicks from - 1 started the exact same way I did and is now using cabinet incubators and selling almost commercially - a lot of birds. So I relaxed after discussing things with him. Then, speaking with the 2nd breeder - she also started with minimal input - also now using a cabinet incubator and should be getting a separate, larger hatcher. In fact - her comment was "why would you want to take a chance on dropping or otherwise "injuring" your eggs by candling throughout the incubation process? I've had lots of luck, no real issues (except one when we had a power spike during a storm and my eggs all actually exploded in the incubator - that was nasty!!)..." - again, I took a deep breath and decided this first time - that's just what I'll do - leave them alone. I'll get what I get. These are first time pullet eggs - all the birds literally JUST started laying in December, so...
According to the thermometers, the temps are holding nicely at just under 100*. The humidity is probably higher than I should have had it (around 47%) - he said I probably should have started with 0 water in my incubator and then put water in for the actual hatch during lockdown. O, well. After checking the humidity again this afternoon, I may drain water out of that first tray (not sure how, though w/o a major temp drop...).
I got the Hovabator 1602n and have the egg turner in it. I did find an electronic thermostat and a fan that will fit in this and will upgrade it when this hatch is over and before doing the next one. Already thinking seriously about getting another incubator and could see easily running more than that (OMG - is there something wrong with me? I already have LOTS of chickens - do I REALLY need that many more?).
** edited to add** - OOPS, was going to add tags. I don't think I've ever started my own thread before... I don't see how to add tags after the thread is set up.
