First time incubating advice

Vanilla Gorilla

Songster
6 Years
Oct 4, 2017
82
106
146
Utah
Hi,

So I bought an incubator, brinsea mini advance ii, and I'm just looking for general advice and pointers. It has an automatic egg turner. How often, if ever should I be opening it to candle, etc.? Should it be in a sunny or shady location in the house? Do I intervene at all during a hatching? The unit seems pretty self contained, so how much do I need to worry about temperature and humidity? Do I stop turning them at some point? I'm looking for real basic stuff, as I've never done this before.

Any info for a total noob is greatly appreciated!
 
I am not familiar with this particular incubator but I would suggest you get a calibrated thermometer to double check the temperature before you set eggs.
Stop turning chicken eggs 3 days before they are due to hatch.
Candle as much or little as you like...the less you open the bator the better.
The less you handle the eggs the less chance you have of dropping them.

Good luck.
 
Hello! Are you incubating chicken or duck eggs? I don’t have tons of expirence but I have done it before and have a few tips! You need to keep the incubator in a place in your house that has a very steady temperature. They need to be kept at 99.5° exactly. 3 degrees hotter will kill them, 3 degrees lower might not but may delay birth or unlikely possibly kill them. Open the incubator as little as possible to retain perfect temperature. Candle eggs occasionally to ensure development so you know the egg is still fertile. You will see veins and blood moving though them. Keep them turning the whole time they’re in there! This will stop them from settling to one side of the egg and developing improperly. Good luck!
 
Hello! Are you incubating chicken or duck eggs? I don’t have tons of expirence but I have done it before and have a few tips! You need to keep the incubator in a place in your house that has a very steady temperature. They need to be kept at 99.5° exactly. 3 degrees hotter will kill them, 3 degrees lower might not but may delay birth or unlikely possibly kill them. Open the incubator as little as possible to retain perfect temperature. Candle eggs occasionally to ensure development so you know the egg is still fertile. You will see veins and blood moving though them. Keep them turning the whole time they’re in there! This will stop them from settling to one side of the egg and developing improperly. Good luck!
Great question! I should have mentioned that before. I am planning on incubating chicken eggs. I plan on ordering some Isbar hatching eggs so I can breed them with my rooster.
 
Great question! I should have mentioned that before. I am planning on incubating chicken eggs. I plan on ordering some Isbar hatching eggs so I can breed them with my rooster.
Temperature and all my tips above still stand! The only thing I forgot to say is you want them still before they hatch. Some people prefer 5 days, some 3 and some 2. I waited until the last 2 days for mine because they seemed so small and I didn’t expect them to hatch on time! Good luck!
 
Be sure to order more eggs than you want chickens, sometimes the post office handles the boxes rough and it causes low hatch rates.

If you can find local eggs, driving distance, you will start off with a better chance.
 
I just googled your incubator and came up with a user manual that i broused thru, and some utube videos of people using it and some tips and results. You might want to check those out.
You should set your incubator up in a low traffic area. (I once tripped over my electric cord and sent mt bator and eggs flying accrost the room):he
It should not be set up where it will be hit at any time with sunlight.
Somewhere where the temperature is constant and does not fluxuate or have drafts. This is true for all incubators.
I never candle my eggs. I have never had a egg explode in my incubators. I have a candler but i find it confusing as some eggs are harder to see into than others. but, If you start smelling something bad, deffinatly give it a try.
Good luck and keep us updated when you start your hatch!
 
I just googled your incubator and came up with a user manual that i broused thru, and some utube videos of people using it and some tips and results. You might want to check those out.
You should set your incubator up in a low traffic area. (I once tripped over my electric cord and sent mt bator and eggs flying accrost the room):he
It should not be set up where it will be hit at any time with sunlight.
Somewhere where the temperature is constant and does not fluxuate or have drafts. This is true for all incubators.
I never candle my eggs. I have never had a egg explode in my incubators. I have a candler but i find it confusing as some eggs are harder to see into than others. but, If you start smelling something bad, deffinatly give it a try.
Good luck and keep us updated when you start your hatch!
I'll definitely keep you updated! I was thinking of starting after Christmas, so a little ways off. I'm excited to give it a try!
 

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