Octagon Setup. Humidity. *ARGH WE HAVE A BACKWARDS PIPPER!?! HELP!*

[DaiquiriDuck]

Ok so I gave up on decisions went to the local shop and got a Brinsea Octagon ECO

Setting it up at the moment and have a few questions for you all....
- firstly what disinfectant do you all use to clean the bator? I was thinking virkon as I used to use that in my jobs at a lab and know its decent stuff. But I only had standard human disinfectant liquid that i diluted quite alot to clean it for now.
- It says not to run in a room below 15oC mine is 14oC (typical British weather

) Shall I stick a space heater in my room for a bit to keep the temp up?
- Do most people fill up the first water tray for normal humidity and the second tray when hatching? And what are you using? Im using distilled water.
- What settings are you using for the ventilation?

Any other tips would be appreciated

I'm VERY excited!

 

[slackwater]

I've successfully hatched two clutches with my Octogon Eco. I love it! I keep mine in a room that is 70 degrees, and it doesn't have any problems holding the temp, but I would recommend that you stay within the ambient air temps that they recommend. As far as disinfecting is concerned, I just used regular soap and water for the washable parts. I filled up one well with tap water until day 18 and then filled up the second well for hatching. No problems with humidity, even when I had to open the 'bator for a quick chick-grab. And for my ventilation, I have vent set to all the way open.

Good luck! It's a great 'bator.

 

[pfmoore17]

I would use Fairy dish detergent to clean it. seriously
isn't distill water Evian left to stand overnight?
as for the 15 C and you are at 14 C, well, if you don't have it, you don't need it.
i fired my up yesterday, in a 60F room and it is rock solid @ 100F and 45%RF.
have fun.

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

Turned it on and it's been rock steady at 37 degrees!!

Though i may move it out my room as its a tad noisier than expected lol!
Cheers for the advice

I will clean it with fairy next time.
Its actually being set up to 60% humidity now as we have an egg that needs hatching out in lock down as of tomorrow and the other bator still has 1 week along eggs.

Hoping to get some silkie eggs on Tuesday so they will go in on Wednesday

cant wait!!

 

[nmantime]

I run mine also in a room we keep at 59/60 oF room and it's locked in at 99.8... I just fill one tray until day 19 then fill the second and turn off the cradle. Great incubator and I wash out with disenfectant dish soap and hot water.
Good Luck
Norm in N.CA

 

[The Sheriff]

I use the disinfectant sold by Brinsea. A little bottle goes a long way when diluted and it smells good too.

 

[Joyryder]

I just stick the bottom in the dishwasher and clean the top with diluted clorox spray.

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

Cheers everyone!! I have it stable at 40% with BOTH water trays full so I may have to use a bit of kitchen roll in the bottom, dipped in one of the trays, to get the humidity up.
But other than that everything is good to go

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

I have been trying to work out the best humidity for silkies when batoring. I was going to go with 40% then up to 60% at hatch. But somewhere i read said silkies do better at 30% then up to 45% and others say 50% to start and 80% to hatch!!
Im very confused now

Whats anyone else using?

Relative humidity in the south where I live is about 70% this time of year getting up to 90% on rainy days (alot of them round here

)

Also dads incubator got up to silly humidy of 50%-70% how can i correct and compensate for it?

Should i hatch them at lower humidity?

Sorry for all the questions... just want to get the first hatch perfect!!

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

Anyone on the humidity? It's lock down as of this evening so I need to get it set up now really for the silkie about to move bators and be hatched