Incubating ... Where to start .... UPDATE: Tractor Supply Incubator?

[JulieZ]

Does anyone have any recommend reading links that tells you everything about the incubating & hatching eggs process? I want to do an extensive study on this before I go jumping in like I always do. Someone ... save me from myself.

 

[crazy chook]

Have a look on this site at the learning center, and in the incubating & hatching eggs forum.
Cheers Donna

Have fun, I am a hatchaholic

 

[sonjab314]

Here you go Julie. Hope this helps.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48726

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Happy Hatching!!

 

[JulieZ]

I'm looking into incubators on a tight budget. Has anyone tried this one from Tractor Supply?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...ken-equipment/little-giant-egg-turner-2167387

 

[SarahIrl]

Never used a little giant, but have heard a few things about them:

Hatches one and two generally no problems, but after that - rates go down on sucessful hatching. The reasons seem to be because the bator is styrofoam and is very hard to clean extensively (as bacteria gets in between the packed plastic bubbles that makes up the material), bacteria LOVE incubators think of it as a warm wet bacteria heaven. Also, the lid edges and hinges tend to loosen or get worn down with use, so a secure fit is hard to maintain. This causes bigger fluctuations in heat and humidity.

For the same amount of money (and if you are researching first, buying later it is worth looking into) make your own. Use a plastic box, not stryrofoam. You can get turning trays - buy this assembly first so you get a casing (plastic tote) to fit. Plus, you can make it as big or as small as you like for little cost difference.

 

[aprophet]

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/-/thermal-hova-bator-incubator1602n/

This is the one I have been using. I am on my 5th hatch with it 1 hatch of silkies 2 quail and at present I have 24 chukar eggs in it. My 2 hatches of quail I had 18 out of 20 eggs hatch and 16 out 20 eggs hatch with my silkies out of 12 eggs 8 were viable 5 have hatched so far and 2 are piping tonight the last one looked good last time I checked, the eggs are from under a broody. In between hatches I clean it with bleach water and a couple days of UV from old sol my chukars go on lockdown next thursday. I think the humidity pan in the reptile one is different it seems easy to get the humidity up to 65% ++ there are more places for water.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Julie I have used the little giant in fact I still use it. I also have the hovabator forced air that I prefer. Here in FLorida you will not have to worry much about humidity. I use the dry method and it seems to work for me. I am done hatching for awhile as I have 9 brooders going at the moment filled with different aged chicks. My hatch rates in the little giant have been 85-95%. I find the best hatch rate comes when I forget about the incubator and go about my daily chores. I set the temp and humidity and walk away. I check it once in awhile but only open it to add water when the humidity goes below 25%. (I use an egg turner). When my hatch goes into lockdown I then candle my eggs I put shelf liner on the wire rack. This helps to keep the mess contained. When my hatch is over I wash the incubator with bleach water and sit in outside in the sun to completely dry. Between the sun and bleach it kills any bacteria. I have been using this incubator for over a year now without any problems.

 

[Denninmi]

Just a quick comment about bacteria growing ina foam incubator.

Aside from bleaching and letting it sit in the sunlight a couple of days, both excellent ideas, another way to help clean the foam base (or lid if you wanted to bother to disassemle and then reassemble so as to not damage the working parts) is to put the foam portion into a parked car for a couple of days in the full summer sunlight. The heat "bakes" out any residual moisture and odor, and while it may not get hot enough to sterilize, it certainly can't do the bacteria any favors.

 

[DKPoultry]

I went the impulsive tractor supply route and got a Little Giant... and on my first use the incubator quit working 4 days before hatch day. The heating element quit working and my eggs got too cold. I am thinking I am going to make my own for my next adventure... that first one was very dissapointing.
On the flip side, I have a friend that uses an LG from TSC sucessfully. They just hatch a couple eggs here and there.

Guess it just depends on your luck.