Incubators Anonymous

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Found the assisted hatching thread and I am giving them some more time.

 

[CLSranch]

Hope they hatch out for you. I like to help them but it seems that it makes weaker chicks that die later.

 

[stryker]

Well, I finally have enough hens to fill the incubator half way in 10 days with 114 eggs! Now to see how well the cabinet incubator works. At day 7 there were only 25 non-fertile eggs. Now to see how they do on day 18 and 21. Hoping for over 50% hatch rate...


I forgot to mention that I made an automatic water tray with 1/4 inch hose, 2 quart dog dish and a 1/4 inch float from amazon. Total cost was $12.. I just put a hole big enough to fit the hose in the gallon jug of water. To get the water going I just squeezed the jug with the lid on until the line was primed then lifted the lid a tad for air exchange. I also drilled a hole in the side of the incubator and glued a straw in the hole so the wood would not get damaged by condensation.

 

[CLSranch]

Very injanuative stryker. I know I didn't spell that right. But nice work anyway.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Well, I finally have enough hens to fill the incubator half way in 10 days with 114 eggs! Now to see how well the cabinet incubator works. At day 7 there were only 25 non-fertile eggs. Now to see how they do on day 18 and 21. Hoping for over 50% hatch rate...


I forgot to mention that I made an automatic water tray with 1/4 inch hose, 2 quart dog dish and a 1/4 inch float from amazon. Total cost was $12.. I just put a hole big enough to fit the hose in the gallon jug of water. To get the water going I just squeezed the jug with the lid on until the line was primed then lifted the lid a tad for air exchange. I also drilled a hole in the side of the incubator and glued a straw in the hole so the wood would not get damaged by condensation.

Hey Stryker, what you using that little pan in? Is it big enough to keep your moisture where it needs to be?

 

[stryker]

Hey Stryker, what you using that little pan in? Is it big enough to keep your moisture where it needs to be?

I am using that little pan in my large cabinet incubator.. It is big enough to keep the humidity at 48% without help... The hoses that are going into the pan are attached to fish tank bubblers that help bring the humidity up to 75% if needed. I have the fish air bubbler motor attached to a WH8040 humidity controller.

I am actually letting the pan run out of water to get the humidity in the incubator back to 35% as the egg air spaces look a tad small for 7 days.

So far it has been doing a good job. I really wanted to see if the 1/4 inch float would work and not leak with the lack of water pressure. So far the float does a great job.

Nothing like having extra unneeded stuff from previous incubator projects to use on this project.

 

[stryker]

One chick hatched out supper fast. We left to go shopping at 3pm and just got back at 7pm. It went from no pip to all hatched out. Two more have pip's but are just hanging around. 80 more eggs to hatch or 40, or 30, or 1

. It was supper early as Monday is day 21. I am guessing that the temp was a degree or two off.

 

[dcba flock]

I'm Chris and have a hatching addiction. I gave it up for nearly 3 years due to moving but now I'm in a new house and my fiancé is working on my coop

as we have clearly will have babies on their way soon (hopefully) after a few incidents many my small Brinsea I previously used to hatch wasn't calibrated and cooked 2 batches

. I now have a variety in a new cheapo bator that appears to be working well as over 1/2 of my eggs are developing quite well fingers crossed I will finally get some fluffy butts again. Ordered another of the same model and have 2 more batches on their way....

 

[CLSranch]

Congrats Chris. And don't feel bad I've cooked a few. I think we all have if we've done it much. Hears to more fluffy butts.

 

[CrazyChookLady5]

Just wondering why its so important too not opening the incubator. I mean the obvious point is that the incubator losses heat/humidity when its opened, but if a chicken is hatching eggs she has to get up to eat & drink and while shes doing that her eggs would lose a bit of heat as well. is there any other reasons?