hovabator 1602 *unstable, not a good time*

[kaitlyn_rae2003]

Well this couldnt be any worse...I incubated my 27 or so eggs in a still LG, which is like universally hated, and had tremendous luck. Temps and humidity never fluctuated, I had set up my hovabator, brand new, as my lockdown/hatcher. Ran it for weeks! I candled and had 24 definite movement, very alive chicks so into lockdown we went. At 3 am I woke up, LUCKILY and checked, the temp spiked to 106. it couldnt have been more then 2 hours, BUT I am terrified that i have killed my babies....

This stupid thing wont hold the temp steady at all. it is a hovabator 1602. I was thinking it would be better/more reliable then my LG, but so far that is not the case. I have one pip so far, only moments after lockdown began...Isnt that kind of weird? If anyone has any advice or tips or can think of something I am doing wrong with the hovabator temp, please fill me in!!! there is like NO sweet spot, and of course, this is the WORST time to encounter a problem....

 

[kaitlyn_rae2003]

please? anyone with advice?

 

[greatchicken]

I have a hovabator 1602. I have not had any problems so far but I am only on my second hatch out of it and have not had any experience with any other bator. Do you have a fan in it?

A few things I learned from my first hatch..

1) If the tray of water got low then the temp would rise pretty quick so I always had to make sure that the tray was full of water. This caused a spike one night of about 103. I still got 15 out of 20 to hatch.

2) When the eggs started to pip I had a temp spike also of about 102. I had to make several adjustments. I have read that hatching chicks will raise the temp and the humidity.

Sorry you are having such problems. My will keep a pretty stable temp and humidity. I just have to keep an eye on it. I have very little experience with hatching but I hope my little bit of info may help.

ETA: If you tightened down the wing nut on the temp adjustment then this will also cause all kinds of problems with temp. I did not loosen the wing nut before making an adjustment and my temp started to jump all over the place. I found that the wing nut only needs to be snug enough to not allow the temp adjustment to move.

 

[snazzyboots]

i have a hovabator 1602 and i'm on my 2nd hatch. it hasn't been very good at keeping temps. was all over the place first time and just put more in last night. my first hatch was iffy but most were shipped eggs. i think next year i will switch to another brand. good luck with your hatch

 

[JerseyFresh]

Quote:
I also found this to be true. I would loosen the nut to make an adjustment then tighten it back so it would't creep. I also added a fan and auto turner to mine. My first hatch was with shipped eggs and I got 7 out of 21. My niece is hatching a full tray with local eggs and I'm sure she'll do better.

Good luck with your hatch.

 

[fishman65]

I say it every time...fan...fan...fan...fan....!!!!!
1602 will have hot spots and unstable temps with out a fan and a stable CONSTANT outside temperature. a couple hour temp spike should not be too bad especially this close to hatch time. Incubation is not an exact science, it is more like a winnable lottery with cute fluffy winners.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

http://cmfarm.us/stillair.html

Hova-bator is a good incubator but they need a fan.

 

[Chickiebabyfluff]

Hope all comes out well for you! I just purchased a Hovabator 1602 but it is a still air one. This is my first time at hatching and this one came reccomended so i got it...anyone every use a still air one? I am so nervous my eggs will be arriving next week and im a nervous wreck! Lets us know how things turn out for you! **Fingers crossed**

 

[greatchicken]

Quote:
I would say get a fan if you can. This will make your temps much more stable. Mine has a fan and I have very little temp variation.

 

[sumatra]

kaitlin--keep hoping! My old hovabator with a fan spiked twice to 107 and chicks still popped out. I got rid of that one, have 2 still airs and a LG and the only trouble I have is from the LG.