Incubators for dummies?

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I think I just cooked all my button quail eggs

Don't know for sure, but I'm on day 13 of 17. I bought non-stick shelf liner, cut it to fit, took the eggs out QUICKLY, and put them on the liner. Temp dropped so I turned it up to compensate. A bit too much. Went back to check a short time later and it was 104.

I'm not liking this old Hova-bator I got from my cousin. The temps fluctuate too much and I am having trouble keeping it consistent because I open it twice a day to turn the eggs.

What bators have you had good success with and recommend? Anything with an internal automatic thermostat? It's been so hot here this week that I am sure that's part of the problem but if I'm going to upgrade, I'd like to get one with positive info.

 

[clarkestep]

I don't know anything about Button Quail but if they are like chickens, if it helps any, mine did the same thing and I just had one hatch. It actually got high several times, though not for about a couple of hours each time. I keep reading that it takes the temp of the egg a while to heat up, so, maybe your babies will be fine. I hope so!

JC

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Oh that is encouraging - thank you! Congrats on yours and I would be happy with just one! I so hope I didn't cook them...it wasn't that high for very long, half hour at the most.

 

[Harley's girl]

I know nothing about quail! But I have had temp spikes in my LG's. Do not give up hope. I give up when the hatch date came and went a week ago! LOL

I have to think that peeps are stronger than we think. Good luck keep us informed.

 

[panner123]

I hate turning eggs. I have a number of L G's with turner with I use in schools. As long as the teacher can keep the students from opening up the brator the hatch rate is good. I don't even open it up to candle the eggs. Just have the teacher add water though the vent. On dy 18 pull the turner. On day 21 thur 23 take the chicks out and put them in a brooder. On day 25 take out any chicks and throw away any unhatched eggs. Clean the brator and start over again. I wouldm't worry to much about your eggs, they should be O K.

 

[eggonomist]

When I was havig issues in my incubator we had temps of 106 for some time, I have an egg filled with water and an aquariam temp probe in it, it took a few hours for significant change on that thermometer while the air temp is very reactive, the eggs do take some time to respond to temperature changes

 

[Wildsky]

If you're going to go shopping for a new one, get a hova genesis..... I love it - pretty fool proof.

 

[conny63malies]

we had people on here with temp spikes up to 115F and still the chicks survived. If you want a goof proof bator it either the 1588 (Genesis) or maybe the Brower tophatch.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Just looked at both models that were recommended and they do look very nice. My SIL uses and recommended the Hovabator 1602N model but I kind of like the Genesis better. The Brower one doesn't have any prices. Any thoughts about the 1602N? There's one with a turner ending on ebay in 4 hours and it's under $100 incl shipping. Thoughts?

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Well, I did it; couldn't take it anymore. Went to the feedstore and they had a Little Giant still air and forced air. I got the still air and also the egg turner. The guy wants me to sell chicks so bad he gave me a deal I couldn't pass up! So now I'm getting the temps regulated and am going to move the button quail in there. It has two nice big windows. My old hovabator has one small window too dirty and yellowed to even see in. Day 14 of 17. I'm so psyched!!!