Hatcher ? - Fan or NO fan ?

[G Wiz Ranch]

We have a Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco egg incubator/turner, our last batch of 17 had 5 that pipped, but didn't make it after that, the humidity was solid at 65 from day 18 on. On day 18 we removed the "bars" that hold the eggs while on the turner, we removed the turner and added water to the tray. We left the lid off until 12 of the chicks were dried off. We removed the 12 and left the 5, the 5 were all pipped but they never hatched, we waited another 24 hours before we removed the eggs. The 12 chicks were super cramped in the bater before we removed them.

My question is, since the chicks were cramped and 5 seemed to dry up, should we get another bater to use as a hatcher? We were thinking about getting the Hovabater or Little Giant since some of the local stores carry them. Should we get the fan option? It seemed to me that air movement may dry up the membrane too early and make it harder for the chicks to break through. Our main reason is the fact that there is no room in the Eco for the chicks as they are hatching when you put 16 or more eggs.

So, Hatcher or no Hatcher? Fan or no Fan

Thanks for your time.

 

[onthespot]

I use a hovabator 1602n with no fan as my hatcher. I put rubberized shelf liner over the wire bottom, fill the trays with as much water as needed to keep the humidity around 65% and lay the digital hygrometer on the floor of the incubator right with the eggs and make sure it is running 99-100 degrees, great hatches are had, even though I do stuff like open the bator and stuff when I am not supposed to. I don't just open it and air it all out, but I will snatch an egg that looks like it is in danger. Probably cause more to be in danger, which leads to more intervention. Anywhoooo... I still ge good hatches. Maybe you could do even better if you could do it without opening it like I do.

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

Thanks, that make me feel better about the idea of using a hatcher.

Do you think that the fan in the incubater can cause the membrane to dry out?

 

[jimnjay]

The fan does cause them to dry but if humidity is up it should not matter. Once an eggs pips and does not progress even in a unit without the fan the membrane will dry and the chicks get stuck. I have a friend that uses the still air to incubate and the one with a fan to hatch, she feels the fan helps dry the chicks and you can get them to the brooder faster. I have a fan in both the incubator and the hatcher.

I am not sure why you left the lid off while the 12 chicks dried off. I am not familiar with the new Brinsea but it is important to keep the lid on most incubators while the hatch is going on. If you feel they are cramped or to crowded, then quickly take the hatched ones out. you can place them under a light or even put them in another hatcher type unit. Humidity at the final day is so important and if the lid is off there will be very low humidity and most likely to little to complete the hatch for those that pipped.

I have a little homemade type hatcher that has a string of night lights on a dimmer switch. I put chicks that are not doing really well in there to see how they do and give them extra time to get their land legs before putting them in the brooder with the mob. It works well for ones that need extra care and that would have been better in the incubator for awhile longer.

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

Quote:
Oops, I miss spoke (typed) I meant to say we put the lid back ON. We removed it for a very short time to fill the bator with water and remove the rack that keeps the eggs from moving around while it is turning the bator.

Thanks for your advice.