Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[BGMatt]

Santa will be bringing me a Sportsman 1500 and egg trays.  I have been VERY good this year............

I'll be hatching every heritage egg laid at my place next year!

Awesome, you'll be in incubator paradise!

 

[Wisher1000]

I am really excited.

If I can't do better than previously with my stryobators, (about 60% hatch rate was my personal best) I will know the problem is me!

 

[Extra Java]

Quote: Thanks Matt. That would be great too. I don't know anyone out here in the middle of nowhere land but that's why I enjoy this thread so much. Everyone here is so helpful when one gets "stuck".

The internet should be the best thing to happen to rare poultry. People coming together sharing knowledge. Let's hope that we can revive some of these old breeds from East to West, North and Southern USA!

Kick that can...

 

[Wisher1000]

Santa is bringing me a Brinsea Octagon 20 to go with my homemade one and my other Octagon 20.

Congratulations! You will be hatching lots of heritage birds, too!

Awesome, you'll be in incubator paradise!

I am really excited about this incubator. I hope it is as "push button" and stress free as everyone says. I have already ordered it, paid for it, and am just waiting on the shipping confirmation from GQF Mfg.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Congratulations! You will be hatching lots of heritage birds, too!


I am really excited about this incubator. I hope it is as "push button" and stress free as everyone says. I have already ordered it, paid for it, and am just waiting on the delivery confirmation from GQF Mfg.

I find that my Sportsman would "hatch a rock" after some initial adjustments.....BUT, the digital temp setting "can" be a little bit inaccurate. I placed 3 highly reliable digital thermometers in mine and adjusted the temp setting accordingly. If I recall correctly, I have to set my unit at 101F on the digital readout in order to achieve a 99.5F reading on the uppermost shelf. Mine is in my office where the temps are maintained between 68-72F

Just what I've experienced....others may be different

 

[Wisher1000]

I plan to put mine in my laundry room. I hope the temps there will be okay, it is where the washer/dryer are, but it is 18 feet long with the machines on one end and the bator will be on the other.

Oh, and I have two SpotChecks and three other cheaper ones.

What are the readings on the other two shelves (when the top shelf reads 99.5)?

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I plan to put mine in my laundry room. I hope the temps there will be okay, it is where the washer/dryer are, but it is 18 feet long with the machines on one end and the bator will be on the other.

Oh, and I have two SpotChecks and three other cheaper ones.

What are the readings on the other two shelves (when the top shelf reads 99.5)?

Each reads about 1/2 degree below the one above

If you use all the shelves....I start a hatch on the top shelf. 1 week later, I will add a set to the 2nd shelf, a week later one to the third shelf

When you move hatch 1 to the hatcher, everything moves UP one shelf. When hatch 2 goes to hatcher, same thing....always taking those to the hatcher from the TOP shelf

When I operate this way, everything hatches on schedule (day 21)...

Also, I hatch in egg cartons (plastic or stryo) with eggs upright. Seems my hatches are significantly better this way since the chick is already oriented "upright" since that is the way we incubate (unlike a broody where an egg is on its side the entire time)

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I plan to put mine in my laundry room. I hope the temps there will be okay, it is where the washer/dryer are, but it is 18 feet long with the machines on one end and the bator will be on the other.

Oh, and I have two SpotChecks and three other cheaper ones.

What are the readings on the other two shelves (when the top shelf reads 99.5)?

Also...keep in mind that the incubator can develop a bit of a "smell" over time (water pan, dust, etc), especially if you hatch in it....might be a bit of an unwanted "smell" in clean clothes (LOL)

 

[BGMatt]

Each reads about 1/2 degree below the one above

If you use all the shelves....I start a hatch on the top shelf. 1 week later, I will add a set to the 2nd shelf, a week later one to the third shelf

When you move hatch 1 to the hatcher, everything moves UP one shelf. When hatch 2 goes to hatcher, same thing....always taking those to the hatcher from the TOP shelf

When I operate this way, everything hatches on schedule (day 21)...

Also, I hatch in egg cartons (plastic or stryo) with eggs upright. Seems my hatches are significantly better this way since the chick is already oriented "upright" since that is the way we incubate (unlike a broody where an egg is on its side the entire time)

Huh, I go the other way. I start out on the top shelf and each week move everything down one shelf. No idea why, probably old habit from when I used same incubator as a hatcher.

Totally agree with you on the hatching upright if you can. This past year was first year I shipped in any eggs and it made a huge difference when someone recommended that to me. I'll be doing that for all eggs from now on.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Huh, I go the other way. I start out on the top shelf and each week move everything down one shelf. No idea why, probably old habit from when I used same incubator as a hatcher.

Totally agree with you on the hatching upright if you can. This past year was first year I shipped in any eggs and it made a huge difference when someone recommended that to me. I'll be doing that for all eggs from now on.

Never thought about working them "down".....but it does make sense as a broody will often get off the nest for longer periods the long she has been sitting. I also hatch at slightly lower temps....normally around 98.5 so moving the eggs from warmest to coolest over time makes a lot of sense