Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 Incubator is AMAZING!

[CrisAnderson27]

I use a heat plate and it's much like you're describing. I'll never go back to using a heat lamp. It seems way more natural and they sleep through the night completely silently.

I can imagine it's much more like mama hen.

I've decided I like smaller hatches. My last 20 chicks had a lot of personality, but it's hard to tell individuals in 20 barred rock chicks for long lol. I've taught these 7 to come when I scratch the bottom of the brooder, and peck at where I tap lol. The little black and yellow fellow is a spitfire. If I scratch the brooder floor then tap it as I said...he'll come racing up. If I raise my hand up like a claw he jumps back, then immediately forward and pecks. Like a hop/skip lol. Other times he'll rush under my hand and turn to face off the others rushing up lol, pecking and jump kicking them.

Some are loveable and friendly, some quiet and reserved, and one is outright skittish lol. I never would have learned those things with 20 birds in my brooder.

 

[careeka22]

Is the ambient humidity higher than before?

Yes it was for a few days. I'm in VA and as usual insane weather. It was 85 over the weekend and now 50's. If I let run almost dry it drops fast but even a few drops takes it back to the 50s. I prefer to stay in the 40s. I'll have to be careful this go around.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Yes it was for a few days. I'm in VA and as usual insane weather. It was 85 over the weekend and now 50's. If I let run almost dry it drops fast but even a few drops takes it back to the 50s. I prefer to stay in the 40s. I'll have to be careful this go around.

I can relate lol!

What I've been doing is trying to control humidity in the room for the bulk. Mine has been dry since the weekend, running 30% to 35%.

On a separate note...day 14 and a perfect candling on the 11 Ayam Cemani eggs . It would be really nice to get a full go on those lol.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

What's the consensus on water?
Filtered tap water or distilled water? I only have one gallon of distilled water right now and am not sure I want to brave local stores for another gallon if I run out.

My water is city here, not hard well water like at my other farm and is nicer overall without a heavy taste or scent. Maybe combine double filtered water (I have a good filter) and distilled together??

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Another question-
What are you guys using for marking on the eggs with, I've seen what looks like pencil, markers, crayons, and sharpies. What should I use?
This is something I have not seen an answer to in any of the general incubation articles I've read.

I've got my unit up and running for it's test 24/48 hour period and so far so good.
It's soooooooo quiet!! I have to go over and stand right next to it to hear it.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Another question-
What are you guys using for marking on the eggs with, I've seen what looks like pencil, markers, crayons, and sharpies. What should I use?
This is something I have not seen an answer to in any of the general incubation articles I've read.

I've got my unit up and running for it's test 24/48 hour period and so far so good.
It's soooooooo quiet!! I have to go over and stand right next to it to hear it.

I just use a pencil. Seems safest. Don't want to use a sharpie...but some do. Including apparently the people I got these last eggs from.

 

[careeka22]

Another question-
What are you guys using for marking on the eggs with, I've seen what looks like pencil, markers, crayons, and sharpies. What should I use?
This is something I have not seen an answer to in any of the general incubation articles I've read.

I've got my unit up and running for it's test 24/48 hour period and so far so good.
It's soooooooo quiet!! I have to go over and stand right next to it to hear it.

I agree pencil is probably safest but I used pen on this last batch and they all hatched so maybe not much of a risk.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

What's the consensus on water?
Filtered tap water or distilled water? I only have one gallon of distilled water right now and am not sure I want to brave local stores for another gallon if I run out.

My water is city here, not hard well water like at my other farm and is nicer overall without a heavy taste or scent. Maybe combine double filtered water (I have a good filter) and distilled together??

I use distilled water but I have my own distiller so it's not a concern for me. I'm sure if you have a reverse osmosis filtration system that would also be sufficient.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Another question-
What are you guys using for marking on the eggs with, I've seen what looks like pencil, markers, crayons, and sharpies. What should I use?
This is something I have not seen an answer to in any of the general incubation articles I've read.

I've got my unit up and running for it's test 24/48 hour period and so far so good.
It's soooooooo quiet!! I have to go over and stand right next to it to hear it.

I use pencil and occasionally crayon. I've seen people use all of the above without issue though.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

I use distilled water but I have my own distiller so it's not a concern for me. I'm sure if you have a reverse osmosis filtration system that would also be sufficient.

I'm on well water...and didn't even consider it lol.