Hi,
I've got an Hova-Bator that apparently predates the instructions that are available GQF's website.
There are a couple of discrepancies (or flat-out misinterpretations on my part) between the instructions I've downloaded and the actual model I have. Based on two less-than-spectacular hatches, I believe the issue is low humidity. Of the two clutches I've run through the 'Bator, I've managed to hatch only 2 of 12 and then 3 of 21. In both cases, there were other eggs which failed to pip, but when broken open after 24 hours contained dead peeps wrapped in what appeared to be dried-up membrane.
Here are some photos with my explanation and questions...
Here's where I believe I went wrong. The instructions mention only two troughs: "thermal" and "circulated". In the case of this old-school 'Bator, it appears that the "circulated" is actually made up of two troughs. I've filled all three with colored water to illustrate this point. In hindsight, I feel that I should have recognized this ambiguity and filled both "circulated" troughs during the last three days, but hey, hindsight is 20/20, right? I read the instructions literally and just filled the one "circulated" trough.
Any thoughts? I'm expecting a shipment of "cheap" eggs any day now so I can test this 'Bator again before purchasing more premium eggs.
Thanks!
I've got an Hova-Bator that apparently predates the instructions that are available GQF's website.
There are a couple of discrepancies (or flat-out misinterpretations on my part) between the instructions I've downloaded and the actual model I have. Based on two less-than-spectacular hatches, I believe the issue is low humidity. Of the two clutches I've run through the 'Bator, I've managed to hatch only 2 of 12 and then 3 of 21. In both cases, there were other eggs which failed to pip, but when broken open after 24 hours contained dead peeps wrapped in what appeared to be dried-up membrane.
Here are some photos with my explanation and questions...
Here's where I believe I went wrong. The instructions mention only two troughs: "thermal" and "circulated". In the case of this old-school 'Bator, it appears that the "circulated" is actually made up of two troughs. I've filled all three with colored water to illustrate this point. In hindsight, I feel that I should have recognized this ambiguity and filled both "circulated" troughs during the last three days, but hey, hindsight is 20/20, right? I read the instructions literally and just filled the one "circulated" trough.
Any thoughts? I'm expecting a shipment of "cheap" eggs any day now so I can test this 'Bator again before purchasing more premium eggs.
Thanks!