February Hatch-A-Long

[Offshoreorca]

I have never used the cooling function on my brinsea before, and I've never had a problem hatching. I remember when I used a little giant incubator, and the temperature was all over the place, I was obsessed with keeping the temperature perfect. Now I hear people are intentionally cooling! Goes against everything I've learned why would one do this anyway?

It's because the hen would normally get off for an hour or two each day - thought to help increase hatch rates.

 

[BrinseaUS]

It was definitely off for a few hours at minimum as I have used cooling every hatched and have checked eggs towards the end of the cooling cycle frequently. The eggs have never ever been so cold to the touch and without movement during the end of a cycle, as I only have cooling on for a very short time (60 minutes from Day 7-17 and in the menu it was turned off at this point, so it shouldn't have continued). I am also seeing evidence of embryo die-off in at least two eggs this morning, which I have never had a problem during late incubation with in prior incubations. Other hatches of these eggs have given me a 100% hatch rate, so it's likely not the eggs themselves - as that always can be a factor. The cooling was also set to go on at an entirely different time of the day (early morning) during the earlier part of incubation.

The last time I adjusted the incubator was at 8pm on Wednesday, so I am assuming that is when the heating element got turned off. I would like to be wrong, but when you've used something quite a bit you normally have a good feeling for when something is wrong. I was specifically in the cooling part of the menu, but my guess was that this shouldn't have caused it as I figured Brinsea would have put warnings in the manual if this was the case? Is it possible that there is a glitch in the internal computer that caused the heating element not to come on after the morning's cooling? That would be the other possibility.

I just would like to figure out what went wrong as I want to avoid it in future incubations. Brinsea has always been reliable for me and most hatches I have done have 100% rate (barring shipped eggs and such).

After your hatch I would recommend turning the cooling feature off and testing the incubator to see if it holds temperature.

There is no way to turn the heating element off, accidently or on purpose, so what happened was either the cooling went longer than normal for some reason, or the PCB could be going bad. But you also mentioned that the incubator indicated that there had been a power outage and this could affect the heating as well. The incubator plug may have gotten loose somehow or a power outage may have actually occurred.

If you do notice further problems with the incubator please reach out to our service department! We would be better able to assist you over the phone (888) 667-7009

 

[orrpeople]

Gorgeous eggs!
Are you hoping to keep your SFH/55 sexable at hatch? Bringing in the SS for pattern? I understand the 55 Flowery Hens are prolific egg layers already. Leghorn added to up the production? You have some great projects in the works! Father Martin would approve, I am sure!

Yeah, 55s are great layers for about a year, then they really taper off. But... They are FrEaKS!!! The chicks throw themselves against brooder walls to get away from you, the adults are not much better. While the SFH are so curious and personable - hoping some of that gets passed on.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Yeah, 55s are great layers for about a year, then they really taper off. But... They are FrEaKS!!! The chicks throw themselves against brooder walls to get away from you, the adults are not much better. While the SFH are so curious and personable - hoping some of that gets passed on.

Interesting! I have never actually seen a 55. A local breeder just brought them over from Greenfire, I believe. I am an avid reader and love to research on the different breeds. Perhaps it is because they are primarily used in production in Sweden and they have not been bred over the years for friendliness?

 

[Nmarine1057]

It's because the hen would normally get off for an hour or two each day - thought to help increase hatch rates.

Sounds like we all need to test this theory, with a side by side hatch

 

[Offshoreorca]

After your hatch I would recommend turning the cooling feature off and testing the incubator to see if it holds temperature.

There is no way to turn the heating element off, accidently or on purpose, so what happened was either the cooling went longer than normal for some reason, or the PCB could be going bad. But you also mentioned that the incubator indicated that there had been a power outage and this could affect the heating as well. The incubator plug may have gotten loose somehow or a power outage may have actually occurred.

If you do notice further problems with the incubator please reach out to our service department! We would be better able to assist you over the phone (888) 667-7009

I will do this as I want to get to the bottom of what's going on before I attempt another hatch. If it appears to hold temperature without the cooling function on, I might just not cool for future hatches this spring. Thanks for all you help trying to troubleshoot this!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have never used the cooling function on my Brinsea. I figure with all the candling I do, they get cooled off plenty.

 

[Offshoreorca]

Sounds like we all need to test this theory, with a isde by side hatch

I honestly think I would usually have good success either way - I believe its more important for some other species of birds, but thought to be beneficial in poultry.

 

[Offshoreorca]

I have never used the cooling function on my Brinsea. I figure with all the candling I do, they get cooled off plenty.

I'm thinking this might be my future plan - just take the cover off for a little bit when I'm candling or supervising in some other way.

 

[gimmie birdies]

The lady I got my SFH eggs from also had 55 so I could have gotten either in my potluck. I am glad I got SFH instead.