Mini incubator...

[rainee63]

Earlier this week the chicks I'd set in my mini incubator started to hatch. 7 eggs. Not alot of room in there. 2 chicks hatched Sunday and they seemed to really have a hard time in the incubator. Also, they were all over the 5 that hadn't hatched yet. The incubator instructions said to leave the hatchlings in there for 24 hours but between chicks, eggshells, and 5 other nest mates, I was afraid to leave them all that long. 6 eggs pipped. 5 hatched. I ended up taking the chicks out one by one after they'd been hatched around 12 hours. Even so, when I checked on the last 2 that didn't hatch I found one "face down" with the tip of its little beak out. It never made it to zip. Now I'm wondering if the incubator is just too small, if it was ok to take the babies out before 24 hours and what I could do differently next time to prevent that loss. I know I can't be opening up the incubator when they start to hatch. But just watching the first 2 scramble all over the others was worrisome. And thoughts? Thanks! This is my first time hatching.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Earlier this week the chicks I'd set in my mini incubator started to hatch. 7 eggs. Not alot of room in there. 2 chicks hatched Sunday and they seemed to really have a hard time in the incubator. Also, they were all over the 5 that hadn't hatched yet. The incubator instructions said to leave the hatchlings in the for 24 hours but between chicks, eggshells, and 5 other nest mates, I was afraid to leave them all that long. 6 eggs pipped. 5 hatched. One I'm almost sure 1 was smothered. I ended up taking the chicks out after they'd been hatched around 12 hours. Even so, when I checked on the last 2 that didn't hatch I found one with the tip of its little break out

Keep in mind that when chicks hatch with a broody mother---they are all close and all over shells and all over the other eggs, etc, etc. Never hurts a thing in all my hatches.

 

[rainee63]

I was just wondering if the small space and floppy little wet birds contributed to losing the one chick. It seemed like every time I checked on them a chick was on top of an egg, and I'm probly over-thinking it, but I was afraid they'd end up smothering the little pip-lings before they could get out of their eggs!

 

[snow5164]

I was just wondering if the small space and floppy little wet birds contributed to losing the one chick. It seemed like every time I checked on them a chick was on top of an egg, and I'm probly over-thinking it, but I was afraid they'd end up smothering the little pip-lings before they could get out of their eggs!

I had a terrible hatch rate in the brinsea mini also . First two out spun and knocked the other eggs all over the place.... none even pipped... I'm selling it because who wants to start with 4 eggs so they have room ? Someone said it's a good hospital for hatched chicks from a " real incubator "!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

I was just wondering if the small space and floppy little wet birds contributed to losing the one chick. It seemed like every time I checked on them a chick was on top of an egg, and I'm probly over-thinking it, but I was afraid they'd end up smothering the little pip-lings before they could get out of their eggs!

That's why I posted that pic---with the top on---they can not get much tighter than them. This is just 1 of my 4 trays per hatch and just one of 1000's and 1000's of chicks that I have hatched the same way.

Having used many Styrofoam incubators as well as the cabinets, and having seen and heard many, many eggs rolled all over the place---I am a firm believer that them getting rolled around has no effects on """""MY""""" hatches.

 

[snow5164]

That's great river man you've hatched 1000's and 1000's ..... but not in a round , dome shaped incubator right? These are poorly designed no matter how you look at it.

Your set up makes sense , not the brinsea mini...

 

[PD-Riverman]

That's great river man you've hatched 1000's and 1000's ..... but not in a round , dome shaped incubator right? These are poorly designed no matter how you look at it.

Your set up makes sense , not the brinsea mini...

My reply was for rainee63----you posted about the same time as I did---I thought alot of people bragged on the Brinsea??? Sorry you are having bad luck with it. I got a mini that only holds 6 eggs---well 7 if they are not to big----they hatch great----I never open it till the hatch is over----usually day 22----But hatching in the mini was just Playing---its actually homemade but less room then these $30 mini plastic. Sure once and a while a egg or two does not hatch---I do not have a 100% hatch every hatch----BUT to answer your question NO I have never used a Plastic Mini that holds 7 eggs or a Brinsea mini!

Never thought about using one----but Now I am thinking I want one to play with.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

My reply was for rainee63----you posted about the same time as I did---I thought alot of people bragged on the Brinsea??? Sorry you are having bad luck with it. I got a mini that only holds 6 eggs---well 7 if they are not to big----they hatch great----I never open it till the hatch is over----usually day 22----But hatching in the mini was just Playing---its actually homemade but less room then these $30 mini plastic. Sure once and a while a egg or two does not hatch---I do not have a 100% hatch every hatch----BUT to answer your question NO I have never used a Plastic Mini that holds 7 eggs or a Brinsea mini!

Never thought about using one----but Now I am thinking I want one to play with.

I haven't seen too many not like the Brinsea, be it mini or the 40, eco or advanced.

I am one of those that don't like my unhatched eggs being knocked around. Under a hen, there's not far they can be knocked, in a styro, it's like soccer if you let them. This may only be coincidence, but in the 2 1/2 years that I've been hatching in my table top bator I only ever lost one pipper and that was the only time I had to leave during a hatch and wasn't here when the hatchers rolled it over pip down. Came back and the dang thing was dead. Usually I turn all eggs back up that get knocked and when chicks are that active they go to the brooder. I'm just more comfortable that way rather or not there is danger to the eggs.

‍

 

[rainee63]

I had a terrible hatch rate in the brinsea mini also . First two out spun and knocked the other eggs all over the place.... none even pipped... I'm selling it because who wants to start with 4 eggs so they have room ? Someone said it's a good hospital for hatched chicks from a " real incubator "!!

I thought about that. Just reducing the amount of eggs I put in. I don't have a huge operation. But I was wanting some opinions first. Thank you!

 

[rainee63]

My reply was for rainee63----you posted about the same time as I did---I thought alot of people bragged on the Brinsea??? Sorry you are having bad luck with it. I got a mini that only holds 6 eggs---well 7 if they are not to big----they hatch great----I never open it till the hatch is over----usually day 22----But hatching in the mini was just Playing---its actually homemade but less room then these $30 mini plastic. Sure once and a while a egg or two does not hatch---I do not have a 100% hatch every hatch----BUT to answer your question NO I have never used a Plastic Mini that holds 7 eggs or a Brinsea mini!

Never thought about using one----but Now I am thinking I want one to play with.

I do appreciate the pics and your input! I like your set up, it looks alot safer than this mini thing. Looks like you have an awesome success rate!