Incubator Movements

[TheCelloHatcher]

Hello All,

I have discovered that the best spot in my house temperature and humidity-wise for incubating won't work out very well for hatching. Would it be okay to move the entire incubator at the same time I take the eggs out of the turner in preparation for the lockdown? I am the most concerned about the incubator losing too much heat, as the eggs already need to be removed for several minutes when I remove the automatic truer.

Any answer helps.

Thank you!

 

[Silexian]

Why won’t the same spot work for hatching?

 

[nuthatched]

What model of incubator? Just use the same spot but add a new damp sponge to raise humidity. If you're struggling with heat, use a towel or blanket but don't cover the air vents.

 

[TheCelloHatcher]

Why won’t the same spot work for hatching?

It's not so much that it won't, so much as it's really inconvenient, as people and pets are around it a lot, and I don't want us to disturb them, or them to disturb the others in my family, especially if they hatch at night.

 

[TheCelloHatcher]

What model of incubator? Just use the same spot but add a new damp sponge to raise humidity. If you're struggling with heat, use a towel or blanket but don't cover the air vents.

It's a Farm Innovators 4150 Pro Series. I recently got it used, so it might just need more break-in time. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Would it be okay to move the entire incubator at the same time I take the eggs out of the turner in preparation for the lockdown? I am the most concerned about the incubator losing too much heat, as the eggs already need to be removed for several minutes when I remove the automatic truer.

Not a problem at all as long as you don't get ridiculous. At that stage the developing chicks are generating a lot of heat on their own, they don't have to be kept that warm for a while. The way I get mine ready for lockdown I take the eggs out of the incubator and put them in a cardboard box with a towel for padding. You can wrap them in a towel or such to insulate if you really want to, I don't. I typically have 28 eggs.

I unplug the incubator, take the turner out, get it ready for lockdown, and candle the eggs. Then I put the eggs in and plug the incubator back in. This is in an outside storage building that I keep heated into the 60's Fahrenheit. The incubator is turned off with the top off so it cools off to ambient.

As long as you don't stop to eat supper in the middle of this process I don't see any issues. It won't take that incubator5 that long to heat back up.

 

[Silexian]

It's not so much that it won't, so much as it's really inconvenient, as people and pets are around it a lot, and I don't want us to disturb them, or them to disturb the others in my family, especially if they hatch at night.

You are more trusting than I am. I run my incubators in the basement storeroom. In my opinion. The less foot traffic, curious eyes and hands around them. The better. I keep a tote handy to transport dry, active chicks out to the brooder coop. When they are done hatching.

 

[Sussex19]

I am not familiar with that incubator, but I cannot see any issue with moving it, as long as you are careful not to jiggle it, or drop it!