OK, I got the Sportsman... now, I need help on how to use it. HELP!

[kathyinmo]

OK. I got the Sportsman today. I have it cleaned up, and plugged in. What next? I see vent holes on the back. Is that adequate oxygen?

I really don't get it. It looks to me like, if you hatch in this, that the chicks would jump over the sides??? Please give advise!

 

[The Sheriff]

No experience here with a cabinet style but I'll meet you over on eBay and we can order some eggs! Lot and Lots of eggs!

Enjoy it, some all-knowing hatcher will be along soon with a real response!

Mary

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

These incubators work great! Open your vents about half way.(in flow & out flow) Some chicks will jump,or spill out, but they're practilly made of rubber. It won't hurt 'em.

 

[bigdawg]

when you get to day 18 stop the egg trays from turning when there level. use them for hatching. or you can build a hatcher or buy one. my homemade sportsman has a hatching tray in the bottom

 

[mahalo4]

I just got a new Dickey and there are 2 hatching trays with lids/I think You are supposed to have 1 hatching tray on the bottom and I have heard of the chicks getting out and someone suggested making a lid out of wire mesh? I am sure someone w/a sportsman will help I know I saw a thread about this exact thing i will try and find.

 

[rarebreedeggs4u]

I think I mentioned when you bought it that it does not have a hatching tray on the bottom. You can hatch in the turning trays, as long as the turner is off

They will jump out though and possibly get stuck. I'd recommend using one of your Hovabators as your hatcher and just incubating in this baby

Once you get used to the Sportsman, you'll love it. Room temp DOES need to be stable though, within a few degrees or it will fluctuate.

I think these are the instructions you need to print out and use https://www.gqfmfg.com/pdf/1202 1250 Cabinet model instructions.pdf

 

[rarebreedeggs4u]

Mine is the 1202, which does have the hatcher drawer, but I'd love a seperate hatcher...which is why I e-mailed about your Hovabators~LOL I'd rather just incubate in mine and keep the hatching in a seperate unit, where I won't be fiddling with the humidity every few days. I'm hatching every 7 days or so right now, so I have to bump the humidity for 3 days of 7 each week and monitor the turner VERY closely close to hatching. A Sportsman and a Hovabator would be the best of both worlds!

 

[Junkmanme]

Kathy,

I have NO EXPERIENCE with this what-so-ever......However (being unable to refrain from putting in "my 2-pesos worth) this is WHAT I WOULD DO.....:

I would "incubate" in the 2 upper shelves, then "hatch" on the lower shelf and the bottom.

JUST my GUESS,

-Junkmanme-

 

[bargain]

Nice incubator....You can put a hatching tray in the bottom......We have 2 home made cabinets and they really are great....

And then smile, next order eggs from me!!!!

I'd love to help support your new hatching habit.

Enjoy that nice incubator and have a blessed and happy day!

 

[bargain]

Also looks like you'll need to get some new humidity pads (Can get from GQF) and did you get the tubing and humidity pail as well? If not, you could probably adapt a large bucket and get tubing...

Have a great time with this!