Incubators Anonymous

[gander007]

What does everybody use on the wire mesh bottom (if you have it) during hatch time? I've seen some people put down paper towels, porous mats, towels, etc....or nothing at all. Not sure if it matters. Just curious.

I use the wire bottom in the incubator and the brooder as the wire lets the droppings drop away and into the catch pan for easer cleaning but I have used news paper for taking photos as it reflects the light better and after the photo op the paper is removed .......



My brooder

The brooder with paper see how the light is better reflected back up and lights up the photo

New chicks in the incubator with the wire floor not covered, now it makes it a bit more cleaning but the legs are more of what I am worried about and yes I have tried putting news paper in but wound up with leg problem so that was more then 30+ years ago so live and learn and info was not so easy to acquire back then as compared to ta day and with BYC making it so easy to ask others around the world to ask to day is like magic ...........



Enjoy your new additions and keep asking questions as there is no dome ones out there

gander007

 

[Nanna34]

ok so for my first incubation project I got 2 out of 6 chicks

Considering that the eggs were messed with at lockdown I'm lucky 2 hatched.

I checked the two remaining eggs this morning both were perfectly formed but did not pip internally.

Did some upgrades on the bator, made ventilation holes, put in a window and finally got a hygrometer yay.

Next I am incubating 11 Silkie eggs and 3 Australorp eggs.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Thanks for all of the responses!

The wire is better for their feet when first hatching? My last round of feed store chicks went into a brooder with shaved bedding. I heard that's best when they're little so that's what I used.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I use that cabinet liner with the holes and that seems to get the air through and also it helps catch that chick slime and poo so it does not as easily fall through the screen to the eggs below. I also use paper towels on the bottom of the incubator floor to help with easier cleanup. When hatch is over all of it goes in the trash. The first time I used a cabinet incubator and I had nothing down and that was the a dirty incubator by the time I took the last chick out. Now the cabinet liner is well worth it.

Are you talking about the stuff that grips? I was thinking of using that for less of a mess, but I wasn't sure if it would mess with the humidity, chick feet, temp, etc? It's nice that is has the holes.

 

[gander007]

ok so for my first incubation project I got 2 out of 6 chicks

Considering that the eggs were messed with at lockdown I'm lucky 2 hatched.

I checked the two remaining eggs this morning both were perfectly formed but did not pip internally.

Did some upgrades on the bator, made ventilation holes, put in a window and finally got a hygrometer yay.

Next I am incubating 11 Silkie eggs and 3 Australorp eggs.

Alright I am sure you learned a lot from your hatch so hopefully that experience will help you do even better on the next hatch .....


Good luck on your next hatch ........

 

[stryker]

Are you talking about the stuff that grips? I was thinking of using that for less of a mess, but I wasn't sure if it would mess with the humidity, chick feet, temp, etc? It's nice that is has the holes.

Yes the stuff that grips and has the holes. Actually the holes are smaller than the screen that I have. I have not had it affect the humidity, air flow, or the temp and I incubated over 200 eggs this summer. I have a homemade cabinet incubator and I also use 2 merv1 air filters before the fan so all the chick fuzz does not get recirculated as bad in the vent part. I like the cabinet liner because it helps slow the poo and the slime down enough for it to dry before it lands on the eggs below. Not all of the poo dries but it slows it down enough. I also noticed that it helps keep the eggs from rolling around as much when the chicks hatch. I have 4 trays and I only used 3/4 of the roll and I don't mind spending under $5 so I can clean less after the nasty hatch. I actually bought a couple if rolls for nest year that are sitting in the incubator trays.

 

[CLSranch]

Yes the stuff that grips and has the holes. Actually the holes are smaller than the screen that I have. I have not had it affect the humidity, air flow, or the temp and I incubated over 200 eggs this summer. I have a homemade cabinet incubator and I also use 2 merv1 air filters before the fan so all the chick fuzz does not get recirculated as bad in the vent part. I like the cabinet liner because it helps slow the poo and the slime down enough for it to dry before it lands on the eggs below. Not all of the poo dries but it slows it down enough. I also noticed that it helps keep the eggs from rolling around as much when the chicks hatch. I have 4 trays and I only used 3/4 of the roll and I don't mind spending under $5 so I can clean less after the nasty hatch. I actually bought a couple if rolls for nest year that are sitting in the incubator trays.

Sorry didn't mean to hit this quote.

Help I can't find a hygrometer any tips on where to buy them

Atwoods Orschelyns, TSC is where I got my digital hygrometer/thermomter. A non digital I'd check out the local feed store. If they don't have it they "should be able to direct you in the right direction. That's the non internet way. All I know is non internet. It's a wonder I made it on here.

 

[stryker]

I use the wire bottom in the incubator and the brooder as the wire lets the droppings drop away and into the catch pan for easer cleaning but I have used news paper for taking photos as it reflects the light better and after the photo op the paper is removed .......


gander007

OK, Every time I look on the internet or somewhere else for air cell days and spacing the representation is way off. Thank you for posting this pick as I now know where the air cells should be or close to be. Am I correct the first circle is day 14 or day 7 and the bottom circle is day 18?

 

[ronott1]

Yes the stuff that grips and has the holes. Actually the holes are smaller than the screen that I have. I have not had it affect the humidity, air flow,  or the temp and I incubated over 200 eggs this summer. I have a homemade cabinet incubator and I also use 2 merv1 air filters before the fan so all the chick fuzz does not get recirculated as bad in the vent part. I like the cabinet liner because it helps slow the poo and the slime down enough for it to dry before it lands on the eggs below. Not all of the poo dries but it slows it down enough. I also noticed that it helps keep the eggs from rolling around as much when the chicks hatch. I have 4 trays and I only used 3/4 of the roll and I don't mind spending under $5 so I can clean less after the nasty hatch.   I actually bought a couple if rolls for nest year that are sitting in the incubator trays.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

They can be washed in a clothes washer too.

 

[gander007]

Quote:
Well day one there is no air cell to speak of so the first circle of the air cell is day 7 and the eggs that are not growing I toss day 14 is the seconded circle and on day 18 to 22 is hatch day but day 21 is ideal as far as I am concerned for best health and if they hatch day 18 then I know I need to turn down the heat in the incubator .......

Good luck with your hatches and it is good to know I am helping another incubator enthusiast