This is the first time we have used an incubator to hatch eggs. And of course I have questions!
We have a Hovabator. My husband has hatched chicks in a card board box and a light bulb before. With that set up he was successful too. Now he got his hands on this Hovabator with a fan and egg turner. I don't know the model though. Since neither one of us has used an incubator before, I have a few questions about setting up for using it and about the eggs.
1) Do I need a hydrometer?
2) Where is a good place to get a reliable thermometer/hydrometer combo that is not gonna cost me an arm and a leg?
3) I have seen the round ones. Do you put those on top of the eggs like the regular thermometer? It seems to me that the round ones would not sit flat on the eggs as well as the long flat thermometers.
4) Do you recommend the round ones or the flat ones?
5) Once I get the eggs (I'm having them mailed), do I need to set them out, pointy side down, for a certain time before setting them in the bator?
6) It's my understanding that when using an egg turner that you need to remove the eggs at day 18 from the turner. Do you just lay them flat or do you put them in an egg carton bottom to keep the air bubble at the top of the egg? (I'd like to see pics of this ... do the chicks hatch out easier if the eggs are in a carton?)
7) If you don't use an egg carton, do you use anything to angle the eggs or do you just lay them flat?
8) How long before adding the eggs do I need to have the bator on? ( I guess as long as it takes to calibrate the temp and humidity?)
Thanks for any and all help and suggestions!
We have a Hovabator. My husband has hatched chicks in a card board box and a light bulb before. With that set up he was successful too. Now he got his hands on this Hovabator with a fan and egg turner. I don't know the model though. Since neither one of us has used an incubator before, I have a few questions about setting up for using it and about the eggs.
1) Do I need a hydrometer?
2) Where is a good place to get a reliable thermometer/hydrometer combo that is not gonna cost me an arm and a leg?
3) I have seen the round ones. Do you put those on top of the eggs like the regular thermometer? It seems to me that the round ones would not sit flat on the eggs as well as the long flat thermometers.
4) Do you recommend the round ones or the flat ones?
5) Once I get the eggs (I'm having them mailed), do I need to set them out, pointy side down, for a certain time before setting them in the bator?
6) It's my understanding that when using an egg turner that you need to remove the eggs at day 18 from the turner. Do you just lay them flat or do you put them in an egg carton bottom to keep the air bubble at the top of the egg? (I'd like to see pics of this ... do the chicks hatch out easier if the eggs are in a carton?)
7) If you don't use an egg carton, do you use anything to angle the eggs or do you just lay them flat?
8) How long before adding the eggs do I need to have the bator on? ( I guess as long as it takes to calibrate the temp and humidity?)
Thanks for any and all help and suggestions!
Last edited:
