Incubation

[midasmychicken]

I want to hatch some eggs in a incubator. I read a book on incubation, but it didn't have some of the finer points. And does anybody know where I can get a cheap, nice, still air incubator. I live in Montana.

 

[loveourbirds]

if your going to get a Styrofoam incubator, make sure you buy it new. TSC and Rural King both sell them. some local feed stores will probably carry them. and then theres always Ebay. they should cost $50-60. the one im most familiar with is "little giant" that is what i started with, and i can probably give you easy to follow instructions on one of those.

if you work or travel a lot, spend the money for the turner. but if your home, turning the eggs isn't hard and should not be intimidating to you.

so many people concentrate way to hard on hatching. so im gonna give you the "hatching with brian 101" course.

when setting up your incubator, use at least 3 thermometers and take the one in the middle, just because it came with a thermometer does not make it right.
don't worry about a hygrometer unless you try it once and nothing hatches. (with Styrofoam units)
open the incubator 15 minutes a day. this simulates hens getting up to do their business.
if your temp drops a few degrees for a few hours, don't worry about it. the hen cant keep them perfect either.
there is no such thing as "lockdown" when dealing with foam incubators, you will have to open it to add water during the hatch. just make it quick, it will warm back up fairly quickly.

im here if you need me, im only a pm away,
brian

 

[midasmychicken]

Thanks a bunch, this really helped.