July Hatch-a-Long (including 4th of July hatch-a-long)

[Perris]

I've just started doing my incubator research, and I am kind of in shock at the prices even for little ones!

Have you considered getting a broody? they're much cheaper
A drawback is that they do have a rather limited capacity, at least by the standards preferred by most on this thread! And they're not turn on- and off-able

 

[kelseyk]

.......And......just bought crested cream legbar eggs (since I am down to 2 opal legbar eggs).

 

[Perris]

these are the eggs I put under Maria yesterday, plus 2 home grown eggs

If I get one dark brown and one blue egg layer out of them, I'll be happy
If I get more, I'll have to buy another coop

 

[Vantic]

To hold temp, you need to try heat sinks. Fill jars with water, and seal them.

See there is the thing, I wanted an incubator that I didn't have to worry about. Plus in the 4250 there isn't room to add sinks.

 

[Vantic]

I have them in a pretty stable temped room. It’s usually 75 in my house with the central air. It’s 95 outside.

Yeah, I'm sure it does fine. In the winter (when I started hatching) it was 60 in the basement and stable. Now it is a balmy 65!!!!

 

[Vantic]

Most incubators do their best in a consistent 70-75° room. If you can't provide that, you'll have a better time of it if you insulate your incubator with towels, etc. Just be sure you don't cover the heater or the vent holes.

BTW, you don't have to heat a whole room. Just a closet will do. The incubator may keep the closet warm enough to help itself stay at temp. If you have a closet light, you can put an incandescent bulb (the kind that get hot when they're turned on) in the light fixture. Most fixtures are rated for 60 watts, so be careful not to exceed that.

True true, the cabinet build was easy. You can see by the picture that I was in a hurry (as it is still ugly). 1 1/2" foam does the same as heating a space, the R-value makes it so the temp doesn't leak out of the incubator (except through the two 2" holes for ventilation. So it becomes stable without making an environment for it.

Edit to add the picture: (most have already seen it though)

 

[Swiss]

I built my own cabinet incubator. Total cost the same as a Farm Innovator 4250 with twice the capacity and none of the problems. Depending on how handy you are with cutting foam and doing a bit of wiring, you could build it too.

I could save up for a little to do that (I don't need that much egg space right now, but if i get addicted like all of you....

Have you considered getting a broody? they're much cheaper
A drawback is that they do have a rather limited capacity, at least by the standards preferred by most on this thread! And they're not turn on- and off-able

I have not thought of that. That is an interesting option, and I will for sure be looking into it. The stress of moving to a new home wouldn't "turn them off"?

 

[Vantic]

I could save up for a little to do that (I don't need that much egg space right now, but if i get addicted like all of you....

That is what I thought too. I built it to have a cooking and a hatching level. Then I realized (probably @FortCluck fault) that I should just add another turner. Next thing I know I'm buying seven dozen eggs. It wasn't Miss Cluckies fault although she likes to take credit for it. The hatching is addictive all by itself.

The next build is 256 eggs, under the excuse of "if I build it that big I will not have to build another" and "I don't have to fill it..." The reality is I want to hatch weekly so the three-level incubator will make that possible and easy for the short term memory to remember.

 

[Vantic]

I could save up for a little to do that (I don't need that much egg space right now, but if i get addicted like all of you....

Oh, one more thought. I believe you were already warned to run, run, RUN!

 

[FortCluck]

That is what I thought too. I built it to have a cooking and a hatching level. Then I realized (probably @FortCluck fault) that I should just add another turner. Next thing I know I'm buying seven dozen eggs. It wasn't Miss Cluckies fault although she likes to take credit for it. The hatching is addictive all by itself.

The next build is 256 eggs, under the excuse of "if I build it that big I will not have to build another" and "I don't have to fill it..." The reality is I want to hatch weekly so the three-level incubator will make that possible and easy for the short term memory to remember.

Now you need quail