new to incubators and really hope the one I has works...

[ga*chick*]

I have a hen setting, who hatch one egg yesterday. She is not moving and I really think it is going to be a few more days before the other are ready to hatch.

I bought an old incubator at an auction, never even plugged it in. Just went to the basement and tested it..the fan is working.

I have never used a bator before so this is all foreign to me. Here are some pictures, and my list of questions.

I have read about temps..even this late in the game do you keep the temp at 100.
Do I need some kind of bedding in the bator?
Do I put a bowl of water in the bator for humidity?

Most of all will this old thing work. The door is on top, but when its like this the fan is upside down...what the heck. Is it suppose to be on its side?

Really need help here. I don't want to throw away developed chicks...

Thanks!!

Inside box...

 

[giasmom]

When you say hen is not moving, what do you mean ? Whats wrong with leaving the eggs under the hen ? Is she dead? Can you be a bit more specific ?

 

[newnanchic]

Your temp should be 99.5- 100 that is correct. You will need water for humidity however it is important to have the water on a shelf or higher thatn the chics are so when they hatch they will not get into it stumbling around and drown . Your MaMa hen will stay on the nest for a few more days and that is fine the new hatched baby does not need food or water for atleast 24 hours it has the yolk to surive on. I would give her until tommorow and she if she hatches any more before moving them .Just my suggestion !!

 

[panner123]

Let the bator heat up and see if it holds the temp. Run it for a week to see if it spikes the temp. After you are sure of the temp range, you can put the eggs in it. The temp is the main thing. You may need to replace the heat sorce, but that is easy. It doesn't look like it has a turner so the lid on the top will make turning the eggs easier.

 

[ga*chick*]

I let it run for over an hour...it didn't heat up. The fan was working, blowing and everything. Guess it's just to old.
When I say she not moving, I mean she isn't getting out of the nest box and I worry the chick isn't going to eat and drink. I tossed some starter feed in the nest box. The chick ate a bit. Gave the big girl a drink of water, she was thirsty!

I suppose if the other eggs don't hatch I'll just have to throw them away, and try not to feel guilty...

 

[giasmom]

What kind of heating element does that bator have ? Is there a name brand on it anywhere? Maybe if you post a pic of the heat source we could help you figure out how to fix it.

 

[dancingbear]

Ok, this is a long shot, but I'd try it in an emergency. And you can try it out with a thermometer now, and see if it's anywhere near the right temp.

You could put a heating pad on low inside that 'bator, and see what temp it gets to. Then if mama hen gets off the nest before the rest hatch, you could stick them in there on the heat pad, or even in an egg carton bottom on top of the heat pad. At that point you've got nothing to lose. If they aren't kept warm somehow, you'd lose them anyway. Worth a shot. Or you could run the end of an extension cord in there, with a night-light plugged into it. With a little 7 watt bulb. Or Christmas lights, if you have some of the ones that get hot. You'd just need a piece of metal mesh, or chicken wire or something like that, to keep chicks from bumping the hot light bulb(s). Just what ever you use, if you try this, check the temp w/ a thermometer ahead of time, and just keep it ready in case you need it. A wet sponge on a saucer would work for humidity, and won't drown the chicks.

I hope you let us know what happens, good luck!

 

[ga*chick*]

I like the idea of the heating pad...

After reading the information on the heating unit, I think this was actually a wall mount heater that someone put in the box, and if that is the case, it was put in backwards.

Says Dayton Model 2E708.

The good news is the chick has finally left the box to eat and drink, mom is still setting on the eggs..I have the feed close enough to the box that she can drink and eat while sitting. So maybe she will stick it out.
If she doesn't I will try the heating pad and just keep my fingers crossed. The best I can do with out buying a bator..and I don't have money for that right now...

Thanks for the suggestions, I will let everyone know how this turns out..promise!

 

[bargain]

Yes, I googled it and it is an old heater, now whether the person planned on it being an incubator or maybe a part of some elaborate brooder box. Be careful,,,,these older heaters can be "fire prone".

I'm almost thinking that it's part of a brooder and it would be either plugged in or not or shut on or off depending on the weather. It would seem that it would be very difficult to use as an incubator....but it would be an interesting project! Well, if you're near Bowdon, come on over and let's figure this thing out....Interesting.....