I Will Not Open The Bator...

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Thats the one I have the Hova Bator 1602 w/ turner. Horrible.. Oh, I'd be divorced too with a Sportsman. I was thinking of the Brinsea econo ($99). We'll see. I saw it on here somewhere.. for next year of course ..

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Yes, if the wing nut is not tight every turn, it goes crazy. I had a drop in temp this time to 95 degrees for maybe 6 or 7 hours, but they are still hatching. I had a temp spike of 106 the last time and only got 1 to hatch out of 17. Humidity was all over the place last time too. I had one really good hatch last year, and I don't remember what I did! And the temp problems always occur the last few days.. very frustrating!

 

[sonew123]

humidity -has not been a problem-the dang temp I hate-I started mine up a few days before again to play-of course when nothing is in it it's stable-I put three in and temp dropped -I convinced myself-remembering what BYCr's told me -leave it alone it will go back and it WILL take time-So I did! Well I woke up this am and it was 102.6! very thing. I turned it down and had to leave for work -you watch Ill get home and it will be 95.5!!! if you go to turn yours down how many times do you turn the "crank" 1/4 turn-1/2 way ! i dont know-the dorections that came with it stink and the company couldnt help me much more than that either!

 

[Chickie Mamma]

The temp will go down due to the eggs being a cooler temp. If its at 102.6 I would turn 1/2 down and see where that rests. 102 is ok for a still air. I "try" to keep mine in the range of 99.5 to 101.5 I have not had luck keeping at around 102. And at 102 during the whole incubation period, I had day 19 hatches.. Too early. This time at around 100 -101, they are right on time..

 

[sonew123]

hmmm..sounds good I will shoot for 100-102 is way to hard to try and keep at-thanks!!

 

[Peeper7]

So many of us have the same frustrations! I'm a newbie so who knows if my suggestions have any merit at all -- but I do try to help. I am mechanically inclined and must figure out all the details of how everything works. Meanwhile I'm frustrated.

Humidity: after a few ups and downs with humidity I've found that a few mists from a spray bottle will raise it quickly for a short while until you get something else going well.
I did not like the system of the channels in the bottom of the bator -- was not working for me. sooo I put hot water in a few baby food jars and set them in with the eggs. The surface area is more controllable that way using more or less jars because each has a rather small area.
So far this is working well except - if the water cools down while you have it open, then the incubator has to heat the water too so it takes longer to get up to desired temp. So if I think the water cooled too much I dump and refill with hot water.

Gee, I've learned so much in my long career of 4 days of incubating

 

[Chickie Mamma]

The tray works for me, but I can't get the humidity past 60% for day 18. I add a wet sponge and it gets to 65% to 70%. Its amazing how different each experience is with all of us. Good Luck!!