Incubators Anonymous

[Jessimom]

Jessimom
I think that the lack of light may have something to do with the problem if the chicks are away from heat pad when it gets dark or move away in the dark they may not be able to see well enough to find their way back to heat I'm sorry to hear of your loss and hope you figure out problem. I brooded in my basement for years then moved to a out building only to have a heat lamp cause a fire in the building not sure if a intruding animal or human error caused the lamp to get dislodged but it did and $7000 + in damages later I brood in plywood box away from any other buildings. I keep a well secured heat lamp in it and have seen temps in single digits with no trouble. A small light over the heat source may be all that is needed to draw them to the heat if they move away. Hope this helps.

Shawn

Thank you Shawn, that makes a lot of sense. I never thought of that. I"m sorry to hear about your fire. That must have been terrifying.

Kathy

 

[duluthralphie]

Thank you Shawn, that makes a lot of sense. I never thought of that. I"m sorry to hear about your fire. That must have been terrifying.

Kathy

That's what I was trying to get at with the questions. It does not have to be much of a light. The cheapest flashlight or reading light you can find. If it is too bright they do not go to bed. (Just like kids)..

I use rechargeable batteries for my lights and let them get real dim. Without them I get crying chicks when the lights go out and they seem to not be able to find the pads. With the little light that simulate late dusk, they go right to bed with no fuss.

My wife gives me crap because I use "night lights" for my chicks. She knows I hate night lights for humans.

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

Does anyone incubate eggs at a 45° angle? My husband was saying that I should do it, instead of putting the eggs straight up.

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

Also my husband wants to know which incubator I really want. I don't really know what to say. He tells me that he thinks Brinsea is the way to go. But he like Sportsman and G... something. I don't have time to research. My house, chicks, and 3 kids (especially my 3mo old) are keeping me really busy. I have not had time for research. Could you guys help me with this? I just want something that holds 60+ eggs, holds a set temperature, controls humidity, has trays, automatic turner, possibly has a hatching drawer, and I can easily remove whole trays and eggs.

 

[R2elk]

Does anyone incubate eggs at a 45° angle? My husband was saying that I should do it, instead of putting the eggs straight up.

It is my understanding that the new Sportsman models do turn the trays to a 45° angle and since they are spending the majority of their time not turning, they are being incubated at a 45° angle when placed in the trays straight up.

The old 1202s do not get to that severe of an angle.

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

Right now I just have an Octagon 20 without the humidity pump, and an old 1930s incubator from my grandparents.

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

The older one doesn't even have trays. You lay the eggs on their sides. It doesn't have a turner.

 

[carpe09diem]

Anyone have a Digital Pro Series Circulated Air Incubator? Model 4250? The temp fluctuates from 99 degrees to 100. But I can't seem to adjust the humidity it stays at 70%. Is that ok? My old incubator was just a table top incubator so it didn't have humidity control. This will be my first batch with the incubator so any tips would be appreciated

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Also my husband wants to know which incubator I really want. I don't really know what to say. He tells me that he thinks Brinsea is the way to go. But he like Sportsman and G... something. I don't have time to research. My house, chicks, and 3 kids (especially my 3mo old) are keeping me really busy. I have not had time for research. Could you guys help me with this? I just want something that holds 60+ eggs, holds a set temperature, controls humidity, has trays, automatic turner, possibly has a hatching drawer, and I can easily remove whole trays and eggs.

I recommend GQF hands down. I've tried out brinsea and personally didn't like it. I love my GQF hova bators and 1202 cabinet.

 

[mchlldickson]

So I'm so sad to say, day 24 and we decided to crack open our eggs since we had nothing going on for a few days now. All 4 of my eggs weren't alive. I used a new incubator for hatch out and was having one hell of a time keeping the humidity up! I think I shrink wrapped them... I want to post pictures, is everyone okay with that?