Incubators Anonymous

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I had a minor heart attack this morning when I went to check the incubator. I plugged in two brooder lights last night for some shipped chicks that had arrived and checked throughout the afternoon for changes but everything was steady. I went down this morning and the temp down there had gone up by at least 5 degree! I checked the incubator fast and it was still steady at 99.5. I really love my incubator... Funny enough though, humidity is going up with no explanation. Best I can figure is that adding the chicks, their waterers and heat increased the humidity in the room and it is affecting the incubator. Still just at 45% but it had dropped to 40% and I haven't added any water.

 

[ki4got]

No eggs yet. Wanted to see what readings would be first, kinda fiddle with it without messing with the eggs. Thanks for the responses. One more question pleases. It has the auto turner in it. Where would you put the tupperware container then? Or the shot glasses?

when i've had to increase humidity i use the disposable 1/2 cup (i think) sized containers and you can line them up on the side of the turner... you can see i just cut a small slit in the lid, and that raises the humidity a couple points for me. i fill the cup once every couple weeks or so... depends where you want your numbers to be. i only use this if we're running wood heat and the humidity drops below 10%...

 

[Brethren49619]

Awesome! A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks for adding it. Just checked readings again, and it's sitting at 25%. That's something that seems pretty workable if it holds. Will check again in the morning.

 

[Flowerbh]

when i've had to increase humidity i use the disposable 1/2 cup (i think) sized containers and you can line them up on the side of the turner... you can see i just cut a small slit in the lid, and that raises the humidity a couple points for me. i fill the cup once every couple weeks or so... depends where you want your numbers to be. i only use this if we're running wood heat and the humidity drops below 10%...

Thanks for the photo. . I was trying to explain the tupperware thing.

 

[Alyce birdbrain]

I would like to start hatching this season. I currently have two little giant bators with turners but I lost the thermometers. I was having problems with my hatch rate towards the end of last season. I was looking to purchase a nicer bator for the eggs I want to buy and then have the other two for projects at the kids school and a few friends that want to hatch some of my eggs for themselves. What should I use to clean them? I was using a bleach water solution that was suggested by a friend. Also last year I had a problem with flies laying egg on the hatching eggs and getting maggots. I ended up putting a paper towel over the vents so they could not get in. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Overoberyl]

I would like to start hatching this season. I currently have two little giant bators with turners but I lost the thermometers. I was having problems with my hatch rate towards the end of last season. I was looking to purchase a nicer bator for the eggs I want to buy and then have the other two for projects at the kids school and a few friends that want to hatch some of my eggs for themselves. What should I use to clean them? I was using a bleach water solution that was suggested by a friend. Also last year I had a problem with flies laying egg on the hatching eggs and getting maggots. I ended up putting a paper towel over the vents so they could not get in. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I use Oxine to clean my bators. It's great because I don't have to worry about toxicity, it smells way better than bleach, and is 100x more effective. You can get it online from most vet supply sites. Just do a search here on BYC for Oxine and you will find a wealth of info about how to use it with poultry. It is awesome.

I would try something that you can tape over the vents that would still allow air flow, like a tiny scrap of shade cloth or screen. Not sure how maggots would grow on an eggshell, but perhaps after the Oxine they won't be attracted...

 

[Brethren49619]

Humidity holding at 24%. Cold as heck outside still, tons of snow still on the ground.... but the eggs are going in! Let's see what will happen.

 

[Chucklecluck]

MY babies are hatching woot theses are buff laced polish

 

[Americangame]

MY babies are hatching woot theses are buff laced polish

Congrats it sure is exciting

 

[GreenGirlGrammy]

The difference between the two is the comb. Those are barred rocks the dominique have a rose comb. Here is a picture.