Incubators Anonymous

[ozexpat]

I had one but it died.... I knew I needed to turn them an odd number of times but that third time almost NEVER happened for some reason so 1 time a day it is. My son was going to try to fix that issue with an cordless drill that didn't have a battery anymore. He has if fixed up to work just not wired up or on a timer. He wants to use an electronic control board of some sort. I am in no hurry to rush him. One time a day is working just fine. If my hatches go up I don't know were I will put them LOL.

the odd number is just there because most people have a patterned life. Invariably they cannot turn them every eight hours do the odd number simply ensures that the eggs are not on the same side for the extended period. eg - if you are a work 10 hours then your eggs will be on that side every second day if you turn an odd amount of times.

most auto turners move the eggs every 2 - 6 hours.

many many scientific studies show that the more turning the better - especially during the first 10 days. The biggest sign of poor turning quality is dead in shell chicks and wrong end pips.

 

[sonderah]

So I have been considering getting an additional incubator to use as a hatcher, since having to wait three weeks to get more eggs is just killing me. I don't know if I'm going to get it this year since I have been only doing shipped eggs and I can only squeeze 30 ish in my brinsea 24 (and they require a bit of handling if I do that, which I would rather not do anymore). But maybe for next year OR just use it as another incubator this year.........

So I've been thinking about this one http://www.amazon.com/GQF-1588-Genesis-Hova-Bator-Incubator/dp/B001O4L9LK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398950641&sr=8-1&keywords=hovabator+1588
but if I were to use it as an incubator, I would have to get a turner  (at work all day ) which would bring it to almost $200! (I know, not really THAT much but I have a million other farm related projects next in line for that money). Know of any less expensive but still reliable alternatives? What does everyone else use? I think the cooler bator is out, I'm the opposite of the skills needed to make one of those.

I use the genesis as an incy, then an LG still air as a hatcher. I LOVE my LG, OOPS!! Edited to change to- I LOVE my Genesis!! but Idt I'd spend that money just to use as a hatcher.

with my current hatch I have lined the bottom with aluminum foil just poked holes for the small holes on the 4 corners. Hopefully this will eliminate pretty much all the mess from hatching. Foil is a little bulky and kind of a pain to deal with but I was leary of using saran wrap in the heated environment, though I doubt it would have hurt anything

I put a wet white dish towel on the wire floor. Keeps the humidity good and the hatcher cleaner. Then I can just toss it inthe washer with bleach, & viola! Ready to got again. Lol I LOVE it this way, so much easier! (Of course, I have 2 towels because I always need to add eggs!)

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Lavender and blues are rarer. I have a few that are staying for breeding. I have one male that is a pale charcoal and smoky color. Another male is a lavendar. I can understand your interest in these colors-- very intriguing to see the mix of colors sitting together.

If I were to go with a coolerbator, re-read sally's article on it and it doesn't look like it was as difficult as I thought, could the eggs be turned before work (5:30), get home from work (6:00 ish) and before bed (9:30-10ish) ?? I mean, it is three times right

.

You are good with that schedule as the eggs will have a pretty even time over the course of several days. Hope you do try to build a coolerbator at some point. Handy to have when needed as a back up and adventure to make it too.

Quote:

Whatever works , right??

I see, I see, was having a duh moment there I guess lol. I blame it on the fact that its not Friday yet, been waiting four days for it already and its still not here!

IT is Friday !! Hope you have a great day!!

I have 7 under a banty right now- I had 9 but some were cold. under full sized I would stop at 10 .

My muscovey each have 15-- it looks like too m any but all are covered and securely in the nest.

When we discovered our first broodie, a BO hatchery size, we didn't know hatch date as she had been missing for some time . . . . . she sat on a huge crator in the corner of a little used stall, filled with about 20 eggs. Nearly all hatched! I'm NOT recommending this as a normal number, just that this hen was able to pull it off given the depth of the nest. Still not sure she ever turned the eggs at the bottom. I did remove chicks as they fluffed over a 2 day span.

Quote:
I had one but it died.... I knew I needed to turn them an odd number of times but that third time almost NEVER happened for some reason so 1 time a day it is. My son was going to try to fix that issue with an cordless drill that didn't have a battery anymore. He has if fixed up to work just not wired up or on a timer. He wants to use an electronic control board of some sort. I am in no hurry to rush him. One time a day is working just fine. If my hatches go up I don't know were I will put them LOL.
What ever works, right??

Donna do you still use that first incubator that you created 2 years ago??? IT too had an inderesting turner design-- or is that the one you are talking about?

 

[Runawaylobster]

I had one but it died.... I knew I needed to turn them an odd number of times but that third time almost NEVER happened for some reason so 1 time a day it is. My son was going to try to fix that issue with an cordless drill that didn't have a battery anymore. He has if fixed up to work just not wired up or on a timer. He wants to use an electronic control board of some sort. I am in no hurry to rush him. One time a day is working just fine. If my hatches go up I don't know were I will put them LOL.

I used the one from my old LG that i hated so much..

Setting more eggs tonite!!!

 

[Runawaylobster]

I just put 236 chicks into their new grow out pen

100 in the brooder and 200 in the bator.

Something is going to give....

can i ask nosey questions...

I remember that you usually have a bunch of different breeds of chicks, so with 236 in the grow out pen, how do you mark them to make sure that the markers don't slip off or come undone? also how do you catch them? just get in there and chase them around or do you have a special method.. I have started doing all chick sorting in the growout pen at night with a flashlight..

 

[DMRippy]

I don't use that first bator. I don't even remember how the turner worked on that one. Maybe I used the motor with the rotisserie since it was smaller??????? We must have used it for parts cuz the turner is not on it anymore.

 

[Donna Gerlach]

I have 2 out of 4 eggs pipping. Would it be ok to put them under a hen? None of my buffs have gone broody this year.

 

[Tuhmu]

Not while hatching, after maybe. Do you currently have one broody?

 

[TherryChicken]

Arielle I just find them gorgeous and muscovies are just magnificent

 

[Donna Gerlach]

I don't think so but I seems strange to me out of 17 buff hens none have gone broody I'm beginning to think I'm not looking for the right things.