Incubators Anonymous

[sonderah]

Lockdown commenced last night! Humidity this morning was only at 45, so I soaked a maxi pad with distilled water and laid it in there.

Lol. For future reference, I have to ask if there is a specific reason u use a maxi pad? Does it work better than a sponge or just what u had available?

 

[ChristyinGA]

Lol. For future reference, I have to ask if there is a specific reason u use a maxi pad? Does it work better than a sponge or just what u had available?

I've read that they work well because they hold a lot of liquid in a small space and have a large surface area. Will report back this evening on what my humidity has gone up to. I only have water chamber #2 filled on the Hovabator, so I may need to fill chamber #1, too. I still have plenty of ways to tweak... If I can get it figured out in time!

 

[lazy gardener]

Creative thinking Christie!

 

[ki4got]

Right now mine are outside under my carport in a 2x 4 brooder this time a year I use a basic red light 250 keeps them cosey as they age I switch to full spectrum. 75 then 65 watt plant lights. The light is 2 ft up. Chicks that just hatch to 1 week are in a fish tank in the house with a 75 watt full spectrum plant light

I don't like using lights, because it doesn't allow them a normal day/night cycle. heat emitters are ceramic heating elements that screw into a light fixture.

 

[mbleily]

Anyone know if the old LG auto turner would fit in the Hovabator genesis? I want a genesis to incubate, & would use the LG as a hatcher, but don't need another turner.

My Sil had a old LG and gave it to me to use. I could n't get it to work but it had a turner. I bought a genesis and the turner works. I have hatched several batches of eggs with it. I take it out and put the eggs in plastic egg holder to hatch when they are shipped eggs. so they sit up right. My genesis thermostat does not work as advertised though............it is about a degree and a half lower than it should be. sigh so much for automatic.

 

[sonderah]

My Sil had a old LG and gave it to me to use.  I could n't get it to work but it had a turner.  I bought a genesis and the turner works.  I have hatched several batches of eggs with it.  I take it out and put the eggs in plastic egg holder to hatch when they are shipped eggs.  so they sit up right.    My genesis thermostat does not work as advertised though............it is about a degree and a half lower than it should be.  sigh  so much for automatic. 

Hmm. So, is there a reason shipped eggs should sit upright to hatch? I have my 1st shipped ones going on lockdown Monday. I usually take them all outta the turner and just lay them down when its lockdown time. Sorry its not like u expected! Guess that's with most things these days.

 

[ChickenFox]

So I have a question. Im using my FI Circulated air to incubate my eggs but I was thinking about getting a still air hovabator to hatch in. Thoughts? Im going to end up with a staggered hatch so I was thinking it would be better to have a dedicated hatcher.

oh and what temp would I need for the hovabtor. 100?

 

[JWEBB]

I 'm in the same predicament, I think I'm going use still air to hatch in. Or is there a reason i should have a fan in a hatcher? I have a hova still air now and if i look at it wrong the temp goes up. Since the egg tray is full it seems to do better. yes I think 100 -101 is good for still air incubation I have read, thats what i am shooting for. For hatching I'm going to do them all as I will do the turkeys.. drop temp a little and bump humidity up to 75% humidity on lockdown...this will be my first hatches too so I'm not the pro. Be interested to see some responses as I am just making a hatcher myself too. My two bators are full!

 

[JWEBB]

I don't like using lights, because it doesn't allow them a normal day/night cycle. heat emitters are ceramic heating elements that screw into a light fixture.

Oh thats interesting for brooding and sounds beneficial! where do you get those heat emitters?

 

[mbleily]

Hmm. So, is there a reason shipped eggs should sit upright to hatch? I have my 1st shipped ones going on lockdown Monday. I usually take them all outta the turner and just lay them down when its lockdown time. Sorry its not like u expected! Guess that's with most things these days.

I read someplace here to do that. I think it had to to with the air sack. Sorry I don't really remember. Also, I like them in the crate......it has lots of open areas for circulation of air.....because the chicks that hatch don't kick the other eggs around.