novital

[snuffitts]

hi all
this is my first post and would a ppreciate any help
i have just obtained a second hand novital vattutto 20 egg incubator, i already own five chickens which live in luxury down my allottment, but this is my first attempt at raiseing my own chicks from eggs. due to the fact that the incubator was second hand and came with no instructions i am looking for any tips at all as to how to work the incubator

any help much appreciated

regards snuffitts

 

[Sweet Violet]

Hi Snuffitts,
Welcome, I use a Little Giant with all the bells and whistles. I love it and have had 100% success so far. I'm new too and haven't heard of your brand so I would do a google search to find the instructions.
Good luck,

 

[SarahIrl]

Hey, I have a novital covatutto 24. Does it have two power cables or one? If there's two, it's an automatic turner, like mine. The heater and fan run from the lid, and the turner from the side. There should be a green light on the side, and next to it a hole with a deep-set screw in and a circular arrow with = and - either side. This si your temperature control. Above the light, or just to one side, on the lid should be a raised circular hole, the original thermometer goes there, but I have found mine to be a bit out. I re-check mine with a kiddies digital thermometer poked into one of the air vents on top.

Best thing you can do is plug it in, empty, in an air and temperature stable room, give it 24 hours and check out the temp. Humidity in these are always a bit tricky, and I bought a seperate humidity guage for mine. I fill the small tray in the bottom (well, top it up) every three days and that's fine for incubating, but at day 18 you need to increase it much more so a tray on the bottom of the incubator will be needed.

If the turner doesn't work, or you don't have one, and you aren't at home all day invest in one. I am home all day but could well forget to wear shoes leaving the house, so I really am glad of mine!

I candled my eggs, and apart from one unfertile from 24, have 100% viable batch now at day 7. So I love my incy!! The air sacs are a bit lumpy shaped, but I think that's because I was recommended to fill it up and it will work better. Will put in one less egg next time in each row, for sure.

Best of luck! It's an amazing thing to do and completely addictive!!