PeepingK
Songster
- Nov 12, 2021
- 84
- 81
- 101
This is going to be a long question but I’d be very grateful if you stuck around to the end and offered your advice.
Where do I even start?
I purchased 3 dozen BCM Marans hatching eggs for $200 from a fantastic breeder a couple weeks ago. They are currently on day 17 and doing pretty good (only 1 quitter). The issue is that I don’t have a good incubator for lockdown…
I have 3 different incubators to choose from and I will describe the issue with each.
I am using 2 glass thermometers, one gqf and the other a little giant. Both seem to be accurate.
#1 hovabator Genesis 1588 forced air
When I initially purchased this incubator a few years back everything ran smoothly on my first 2 hatches. Sadly my luck ran out shortly after that. The issue is that once the humidity goes above 65%-70% the thermostat starts to go crazy and the temp will either soar to 105F+ or plummet to 95F or below. This rise in humidity is inevitable while chicks are hatching so I don’t see this one being a viable option.
It does state right on the control centre that the incubator shouldn't be operated over 65% humidity but I didn’t notice when I first purchased it -_-.
#2 hovabator 1602n with fan kit
I purchased the fan thinking it would help distribute the heat more evenly across the incubator but Unfortunately it didn’t help much with the hot and cold spots.
Temp varies from one side of the incubator to the next and from egg level to bottom.
The readings I got on the top of the egg were 99.5-102, and 96-98 resting on the floor.
If I choose to go with this one would I treat it like a still air and incubate at 102F since the temp difference from floor to top of eggs is so extreme?
#3 Farm Innovators 2450 forced air
The problem with this one is that half the incubator runs at 101.5 while the other half is at 97.5 (both these temps being measured at the top of the eggs roughly). The floor is also 2-3F lower than the temp at level.
The high humidity also seems to give this incubator trouble, dropping or raising temperature, though not as extreme as the Genesis.
So my question is which incubator should I choose? None feel like a good option but I don’t have another choice and lock down is in a day and a half.
Thank you for sticking around! Your advice is greatly appreciated!
Where do I even start?
I purchased 3 dozen BCM Marans hatching eggs for $200 from a fantastic breeder a couple weeks ago. They are currently on day 17 and doing pretty good (only 1 quitter). The issue is that I don’t have a good incubator for lockdown…
I have 3 different incubators to choose from and I will describe the issue with each.
I am using 2 glass thermometers, one gqf and the other a little giant. Both seem to be accurate.
#1 hovabator Genesis 1588 forced air
When I initially purchased this incubator a few years back everything ran smoothly on my first 2 hatches. Sadly my luck ran out shortly after that. The issue is that once the humidity goes above 65%-70% the thermostat starts to go crazy and the temp will either soar to 105F+ or plummet to 95F or below. This rise in humidity is inevitable while chicks are hatching so I don’t see this one being a viable option.
It does state right on the control centre that the incubator shouldn't be operated over 65% humidity but I didn’t notice when I first purchased it -_-.
#2 hovabator 1602n with fan kit
I purchased the fan thinking it would help distribute the heat more evenly across the incubator but Unfortunately it didn’t help much with the hot and cold spots.
Temp varies from one side of the incubator to the next and from egg level to bottom.
The readings I got on the top of the egg were 99.5-102, and 96-98 resting on the floor.
If I choose to go with this one would I treat it like a still air and incubate at 102F since the temp difference from floor to top of eggs is so extreme?
#3 Farm Innovators 2450 forced air
The problem with this one is that half the incubator runs at 101.5 while the other half is at 97.5 (both these temps being measured at the top of the eggs roughly). The floor is also 2-3F lower than the temp at level.
The high humidity also seems to give this incubator trouble, dropping or raising temperature, though not as extreme as the Genesis.
So my question is which incubator should I choose? None feel like a good option but I don’t have another choice and lock down is in a day and a half.
Thank you for sticking around! Your advice is greatly appreciated!
