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

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I can vouch for Nancy's great shipping.

 

[Junkmanme]

Kathyinmo,

Speaking of "tubing"..........

I have constructed a re-filling mechanism for my "Little Giants" which consists of a funnel that was used to refill fuel in an old Coleman (white-gas) camping stove and "tubing" of the type that is used in providing oxygen to people with emphysema, etc. It works GREAT for adding water for humidity without opening the incubator!

I have quite a bit of this tubing (new and unused). If YOU feel that you need some, just PM me and I'll send you some!

that ole man "out-west",
-Junkmanme-

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Yes, I know you have wonderful eggs! Now, stop tempting me!

I need to put a call out to volunteer as a tester! That would be a great job, testing for everyone! "Just send me your eggs, and I will send you pictures (regularly) of your chicks!" LOL

I have quite a bit of this tubing (new and unused). If YOU feel that you need some, just PM me and I'll send you some!

That is so kind of you! Actually, though, I have access to plenty of tubing. Thanks for the kind offer.

Now, I am off to print out those instructions, and see if I can figure it out.

Am I correct, that the temp is preset, and I am not suppose to mess with it? I am sure, with my luck, it will not be correct! I am at work, and I plugged it in to warm up. I will check it out when I get home.​

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I am jealous!!! That is going to be wonderful Kathy

 

[kathyinmo]

OK, I have it all warmed up .... the spot check is reading 99.4 each time I check it. So, I think I am ok there.

Now, I just need some eggs to practice with. I could use my own hatchery stock, I suppose. I am sure I could give those away without difficulty, as they really are good layers!

Any other hints or advice is welcomed here! AND, thank you to those who have responded!

 

[speckledhen]

That is great, Kathy! Good luck with your first test run.

 

[kathyinmo]

Thanks for the advise and tips. I guess I am dense and need further instructions.

Am I suppose to put these blue egg trays right inside the wire mesh tray? It seems they have a little room on the sides, and when the turner is going, they tend to slide a bit. Is that correct?

About the bucket and tubing ... I don't understand how that works. I mean, how will I increase or decrease the amount of water in the tray? Does the float just allow a certain amount of water in it?

When it says it has a backup wafer (I see it inside), does that mean it would automatically start working if there was a malfunction of the other?

Please give me pointers and tips ... and elementary instructions!

Thanks!

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Yes, I just ordered new humidity pads. Do I just use those for the hatch, the last 3 days?

What do you mean, I could put a hatching tray in the bottom? Meaning just a tray to lay the eggs in the last 3 days, and put it on that bottom shelf? I still can't figure out how they can hatch in there and not get hurt. It seems to me they would all be jumping over the sides and landing on the bottom, and getting hurt. I really don't want to use the hovabator to hatch in, because it is not as reliable, and because I can't see in there as well. I guess for staggered hatches I would have to, huh?

 

[hinkjc]

If you're planning to use it to hatch in, you should have the lids for the racks. The lids keep them from jumping out. I don't know if I would hatch in it without the lid. Even on the bottom, a chick could get out and get wedged between the rack and the wall of the bator.

You do place those plastic egg trays inside the racks and they will shift a bit when the shelf turns, however it goes fairly slowly so it won't hurt them.

Have you checked your humidity as well? I found I didn't need the extra water pan/bucket with tubing and the tray that comes with it holds humidity good for me, with a filling once or twice a week. You use the humidity pads at hatch time only - as long as humidity is fine without them.

 

[mahalo4]

Kathy the back up wafer should be set at temp first at 102 then set your primary where You have it 99.5/your humidity can be adjusted 2 ways 1 from your water leveler up or down for more surface area and 2 by your vent holes. I just use the vent holes it seems to work great.hope that helps some.