Incubators Anonymous

[marchick]

Do you have the new style Genesis 1588 with the digital display at the top? If so, it should be fairly close to the correct temperature.

Set it for 99.9 and leave it for a day to see what it says at egg level. I would ignore the mercury thermometer and go by the Brinsea Spot Check.

It has been going for a week or better! With the spot check in the center about the top of egg level the temp has been 99.8-100 degrees! It is the new 1588 but the last time I hatched in it the temp spiked to 102 about 3 days before hatch! So I moved the bator temp bown. When I pluged it back in to get it ready to hatch the temp was low. Do you get high readings when you test on the sides?

 

[Faraday40]

It has been going for a week or better! With the spot check in the center about the top of egg level the temp has been 99.8-100 degrees! It is the new 1588 but the last time I hatched in it the temp spiked to 102 about 3 days before hatch! So I moved the bator temp bown. When I pluged it back in to get it ready to hatch the temp was low. Do you get high readings when you test on the sides?

Did it only spike at the very end? I believe the chicks/eggs give off some heat as they hatch (or get near to hatch). That could explain why it increased & was lower when you started it up again with no eggs.

Also when increasing the humidity for the last few days, the temp may change. That always happened to mine. I started using a second incubator as a hatcher to help with that (& also b/c I occasionally have staggered hatches.

I'm not sure how to adjust for hot spots. The Brinsea Spot Check thermometers are supposed to be very good. One problem I have is too many thermometers. When they all read something different, how do you know which one to follow?
ie- "A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure" - Segal's law

 

[ronott1]

It has been going for a week or better! With the spot check in the center about the top of egg level the temp has been 99.8-100 degrees! It is the new 1588 but the last time I hatched in it the temp spiked to 102 about 3 days before hatch! So I moved the bator temp bown. When I pluged it back in to get it ready to hatch the temp was low. Do you get high readings when you test on the sides?

Temperature things can happen--It is best to rotate the eggs--move them around every couple of days.

Temperature can go up as humidity goes down too. There is a temp sensor--Mine is blue and is at the top of the lid under the control unit. Make sure it is clean and centered.

 

[marchick]

Did it only spike at the very end? I believe the chicks/eggs give off some heat as they hatch (or get near to hatch). That could explain why it increased & was lower when you started it up again with no eggs.

Also when increasing the humidity for the last few days, the temp may change. That always happened to mine. I started using a second incubator as a hatcher to help with that (& also b/c I occasionally have staggered hatches.

I'm not sure how to adjust for hot spots. The Brinsea Spot Check thermometers are supposed to be very good. One problem I have is too many thermometers. When they all read something different, how do you know which one to follow?
ie- "A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure" - Segal's law

Yes about 1-2 days before lockdown the spot check read about 102! Nerve racking! The eggs that I am getting are the ones that I have been wanting forever! I don't want to mess this up!

 

[marchick]

Temperature things can happen--It is best to rotate the eggs--move them around every couple of days.

Temperature can go up as humidity goes down too. There is a temp sensor--Mine is blue and is at the top of the lid under the control unit. Make sure it is clean and centered.

O.k Thank you! I didn't know about the sensor!

 

[Kelsykin]

For those that were following. The incubator I had the heating element is fried. DH moved it into our bedroom and ran it for over 24 hours and it got up to 35 Celcius. So the incubator has been replaced for now. He will probably tear the old one apart and replace the heater.

 

[Nanna34]

Hi Everyone Its lockdown time for my Bator, did the last candle check and all 6 eggs are doing great 2 of the Australorop chicks kicked

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I'm running a Hova Bator 1602n - thermal air. I decided not to attach the fan I bought. I had a wee bit of temp flux when I first put the eggs in, but now it's stable. The eggs are on day 2. My humidity is around 55-60%. I just took some water out and am hoping to get it stable at 55%. Has anybody had issues with humidity around 60% the first leg of the hatching journey? I don't want to have it too "wet" and have chicks drown when it's go time. Then again, I heard some folks keep the humidity at 70-75% the entire hatch.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I'm running a Hova Bator 1602n - thermal air. I decided not to attach the fan I bought. I had a wee bit of temp flux when I first put the eggs in, but now it's stable. The eggs are on day 2. My humidity is around 55-60%. I just took some water out and am hoping to get it stable at 55%. Has anybody had issues with humidity around 60% the first leg of the hatching journey? I don't want to have it too "wet" and have chicks drown when it's go time. Then again, I heard some folks keep the humidity at 70-75% the entire hatch.

Well I am sure their are alot more experienced people than myself on here, because I have only hatched about 5400 in the last year or so---but I will give you my opinion----My Opinion is 55-60% is way to high for the first 18 days---""""In My Location""". Also some moisture meters read real high compared to some. How much water you got in the bottom-----if only 1 section you might want to try dry incubating for the first 18 days. Good Luck.

 

[ronott1]

I'm running a Hova Bator 1602n - thermal air. I decided not to attach the fan I bought. I had a wee bit of temp flux when I first put the eggs in, but now it's stable. The eggs are on day 2. My humidity is around 55-60%. I just took some water out and am hoping to get it stable at 55%. Has anybody had issues with humidity around 60% the first leg of the hatching journey? I don't want to have it too "wet" and have chicks drown when it's go time. Then again, I heard some folks keep the humidity at 70-75% the entire hatch.

The important thing is for the air cells to develop. The chick needs the space to internally pip into--and breathe. If there is not enough space, the chick will either drown or suffocate before externally pipping---making a hole in the shell.

Mark the air cells and check the size on the days in the chart:


I would go for lower humidity but watch the development. You will get a feel for it with experience.