Managing the Incubator and Hatcher

[FarmGirl01]

How do you manage the incubator and the hatcher. I know you would take out the eggs that are 3 days from hatching and put them in the hatcher. All other eggs stay in the bator until getting close to hatch date. Does the water in the bator ever need to be clean.
Whats the purpose of having both? Is it to keep the bator clean? Any and all info will be helpful.
I have run a bator for years but only one batch at a time. I have eggs that I want to hatch, but getting enough for a big set is taking to long. The eggs are getting old. Thanks.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

People run 2 to keep the main one clean an so they can hatch more than once every 3 weeks.

 

[abritton77]

So far I have not cleaned my bator, but do clean the water pan sometimes. I have a spread sheet that I made using a program just like Microsoft Excel that I downloaded for free. I just enter the date that I put the eggs in and the # of egg's, and it tells when to put them in the hatcher and when they will hatch. I enter the # that hatched and it gives me my hatch %. I just try to space my eggs 5 days apart and it gives me time to get the hatcher cleaned up after the hatch. I have set them only 1 day apart before and just didnt clean up until the 2nd batch was done.

 

[FarmGirl01]

"5 days apart" Thats what I was wanting to know. And cleaning out the water. Well I think I will just have to get another one. Thanks for the replies. Any more?

 

[abritton77]

I really like having chicks hatch every week. My first batch seemed like it took a year to hatch, and now we have a new batch every week.

 

[FarmGirl01]

I just ordered another one. Christmas every week sounds like fun.

 

[kaitlyn_rae2003]

Quote:
totally agreed!!!! Im messed up though, I dont have 5 days in between a couple! YIKES i hope it'll be ok.... Time will tell I guess. I collected my silkie eggs and kept adding them, this was before I learned you could hold onto them safely for about a week or so.....