Incubators Anonymous

[insanity]

I use a different bator but the same problem.Mine swings between 98-100 daily. I just quit stressing, hens aren't out there with a thermometer.My last hatch was 100% and my set now(shipped eggs) is looking good with 6 out of 7 moving well

 

[Jungleexplorer]

I bought a new Farm Innovators Model 4200 circulating air 'bator with automatic egg turner. I cannot get the temp consistent to save my life! It's either 98 F or 100 F- and on occasion 99.1. No matter how gently I turn the knob I can never achieve 99.5. Using a digital thermometer. Anyone have any experience with this type of incubator? Any advice would be appreciated. Last time I attempted to use the 'bator NONE of the eggs hatched.

Also, I have six of the newest shipped eggs in my mini-Brinsea (had good luck on hatches with that one, for the most part- just hatched six out of six eggs the week prior to Easter). However, one of the eggs is doing something I've never seen before. It has tiny clumps of what appears to be egg white leaking out onto the surface of the egg, almost like someone pricked the egg with a needle. The eggs have only been in there a day. What is going on? Just toss that one or candle it?

No experience with that type of incubator, but temperature can fluctuate a little in any bator. How long are you waiting before adjusting? It can take along time for the temp to settle down after adjusting. Neither 98 f or 100f is killer. If you incubate at 98, the chicks will hatch a little later is all. I have hatched over 50 chicks since February at 100f. But I would wait at least 24 hours between adjustments to see what it settles down at.

 

[noahsmom]

I use a different bator but the same problem.Mine swings between 98-100 daily. I just quit stressing, hens aren't out there with a thermometer.My last hatch was 100% and my set now(shipped eggs) is looking good with 6 out of 7 moving well

 

So true!
I do dry incubation and I think the humidity towards the end can be your worst enemy! We haven't got those instincts that mother hen has and significant highs and lows in humidity can certainly cause problems. As can temps of course but from what I've learned on here they can dip and go pretty high aslong as its not for a long period of time.

I have one brand new hovabator genesis 1588 and loving it right now, the digital readings are off but seems to keep things level. I sort of wish it had a door or something where you didn't have to open the entire top to grab chicks out. My next hatch I plan to do some things different so I won't go crazy with worry while the newly hatched chicks play soccer with the eggs!

 

[Haunted55]

Hello, my name is Debbie and I am an incubating addict. I promised myself I would stop, but the lure of the gratification, watching innocence come into the world, is just to much for this lost soul.

 

[ozexpat]

I bought a new Farm Innovators Model 4200 circulating air 'bator with automatic egg turner. I cannot get the temp consistent to save my life! It's either 98 F or 100 F- and on occasion 99.1. No matter how gently I turn the knob I can never achieve 99.5. Using a digital thermometer. Anyone have any experience with this type of incubator? Any advice would be appreciated. Last time I attempted to use the 'bator NONE of the eggs hatched.

Also, I have six of the newest shipped eggs in my mini-Brinsea (had good luck on hatches with that one, for the most part- just hatched six out of six eggs the week prior to Easter). However, one of the eggs is doing something I've never seen before. It has tiny clumps of what appears to be egg white leaking out onto the surface of the egg, almost like someone pricked the egg with a needle. The eggs have only been in there a day. What is going on? Just toss that one or candle it?

here is my farm innovators with a 15 dollar digital thermostat I got from ebay and a 12V PC fan running on a 5V transformer from a cell phone. Prior to this modification I murdered a big batch of Delawares. now its an awesome incubator

 

[ozexpat]

I agree that small fluctuations in the range you were talking about are OK, If my bator is stable at 100, I am ok with that. Try stabilizing it with 2 quarts of water in tupperware containers to simulate a bator full of eggs. it is easier on the thermostat than just heating air.

that sort of leaking is normally from being beat up in shipping - a scambled egg. i would pull it out. eggtopsy it by cracking it open in a zip lock bag.

 

[booneyman55]

I MAY BE A HATCHAHOLIC BUT I LOVE IT. HATCHING BIRDS MAKE ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. I JUST LOVE RAISING BIRDS OF ALL KINDS.

 

[booneyman55]

I MAY BE A HATCHAHOLIC BUT I LOVE IT. HATCHING BIRDS MAKE ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. I JUST LOVE RAISING BIRDS OF ALL KINDS.

 

[luvmycritters]

I am not sure where to post this so here I go. I had chickens about 12 years ago and just started to enjoy them again. There is nothing more peaceful and joyful than to watch them beebop around the farm. I have 12 chicks in the basement waiting for the weather to warm up some so I can move them outdoors (we have these chicks to make up for the lost first hatch). I have 14 in the outside coop. I have 11 in the bator....This is my second attempt on incubating..I need some encouragement I guess

I have shipped eggs in the bator right now. Day 14. I read and re-read all of the great info on this site and let my eggs sit for 24 hours before placing them in the bator. After that - I put them in the bator in the turner, without the turner turned on and left them there for 6 days. I could take it no longer so I started rotating. I candled on day 8, made notes, threw one out and questioned 6 of the remaining 17. I candled tonight and the 6 questionable ones are gonners and I now hope for 11. I am sick to my stomach. This is my second attempt. I followed the instructions on the hovabator and lost everything at my first attempt last month. I really wanted those babies, so we went to the farm suppIy and 12 to make up for the loss - i thought I did everything by the book - so here we are again. I am optimistic. Fingers crossed.

 

[ozexpat]

I am not sure where to post this so here I go. I had chickens about 12 years ago and just started to enjoy them again. There is nothing more peaceful and joyful than to watch them beebop around the farm. I have 12 chicks in the basement waiting for the weather to warm up some so I can move them outdoors (we have these chicks to make up for the lost first hatch). I have 14 in the outside coop. I have 11 in the bator....This is my second attempt on incubating..I need some encouragement I guess

I have shipped eggs in the bator right now. Day 14. I read and re-read all of the great info on this site and let my eggs sit for 24 hours before placing them in the bator. After that - I put them in the bator in the turner, without the turner turned on and left them there for 6 days. I could take it no longer so I started rotating. I candled on day 8, made notes, threw one out and questioned 6 of the remaining 17. I candled tonight and the 6 questionable ones are gonners and I now hope for 11. I am sick to my stomach. This is my second attempt. I followed the instructions on the hovabator and lost everything at my first attempt last month. I really wanted those babies, so we went to the farm suppIy and 12 to make up for the loss - i thought I did everything by the book - so here we are again. I am optimistic. Fingers crossed.

instructions for hovabators talk in wet bulb humidity. you need to dry your bator up.