Reptipro 5000 Hatch-A-Long (=

[Cynthia12]

I've not had problems with hatching Silkies. Not sure? I have one out, and another on it's way, and two more pipped.

We had a power outage too. Almost half the day! Made the news. So, I just took my bator by the handle, and out to the little suv it went. Worked great I guess. I have another baby, and one almost out.
I'm thinking I would like to try a couple of duck eggs. Will be watching to see how they are doing.

Oh, and I don't let the humidity get high at all where you have to wipe off condensation? Is it that high for the ducks? I keep mine in the 40 to 50 range for lock down, doesn't take much either.

Didn't use anything during incubation until the humidity started to drop after they had been in for a couple of weeks, and also, watched the air sac like yin said, then I raised it to only around the 30 to 40 range in humidity. Kept opening doors when I thought of it.
Thanks yin, you've been a great help. I would never have guessed, that I should open the doors more often, or, I could actually open the doors during lock down, and actually see that it is good for them. Did you open your styro bators often too? I don't use the plugs, but will open it more now I think!

 

[Zootopia]

During hatching, since I move the chicks to the bottom to dry instead of removing them I often have condensation in the front window. I wipe it off with a clean towel when ever I open the door.
With styros you do need to have the plugs out during hatching to make sure there is adequate air flow, but if you open the bator too often or leave it open too long you will have shrink wrapped chicks. That's why they tell you to NOT open styros during lockdown and hatching, styro just don't hold or recover humidity. The RP doesn't have the same vents/air flow since it is originally designed for reptiles, it holds humidity due in large part to much lower air exchange. That is why you need to open the door often , for air exchange (Old low 02 air out new high 02 air in)

 

[yinepu]

I've not had problems with hatching Silkies. Not sure? I have one out, and another on it's way, and two more pipped.

We had a power outage too. Almost half the day! Made the news. So, I just took my bator by the handle, and out to the little suv it went. Worked great I guess. I have another baby, and one almost out.
I'm thinking I would like to try a couple of duck eggs. Will be watching to see how they are doing.

Oh, and I don't let the humidity get high at all where you have to wipe off condensation? Is it that high for the ducks? I keep mine in the 40 to 50 range for lock down, doesn't take much either.

Didn't use anything during incubation until the humidity started to drop after they had been in for a couple of weeks, and also, watched the air sac like yin said, then I raised it to only around the 30 to 40 range in humidity. Kept opening doors when I thought of it.
Thanks yin, you've been a great help. I would never have guessed, that I should open the doors more often, or, I could actually open the doors during lock down, and actually see that it is good for them. Did you open your styro bators often too? I don't use the plugs, but will open it more now I think!

I've never had any problems hatching out silkies either

my duck and goose eggs do great in the Reptipro.. But I've have had horrible luck with every one in the Brinseas this year .. so I moved the last of the duck and goose eggs to the Reptipro along with the turkey eggs.. in all honesty I don't trust the thermostats in the Brinseas any more.. I think the temps have been spiking a lot in there.. there have been several times when i checked on the eggs and they were very hot to the touch.. plus the last of the turners decided to die on me.. buying Brinseas was the biggest waste of money and worst investment I ever made... they didn't even last a year and I bought a bunch of them!

for the styro bator.. yeah I opened it all the time too.. BUT I was incubating some emus in there.. which don't require high humidity at all.. heck. half the time I had the lid propped open to keep the temps low enough on hot days!
If you decide to open yours just monitor the chicks.. if they start having problems hatching then you will know to up the humidity and keep it closed more.. basically let the chicks and the eggs tell you what you need to do.. they can give you the best advice you will ever need for a perfect hatch!

 

[Cynthia12]

Guess I should post some pictures of my hatch here!

Silkie
EE
Blue Olive eggers, one black...there are more, but here are just a few..there is a NH in the basket. Lots of babies made it with this 6000!

 

[crazzzymike13]

I have a repti pro 6000. I do the dry incubating method. My last hatch I only hatched out 8 out of 24. During the 18 days my humidity stayed at 50 percent. Then I put water in it and got it up around 60. When they started hatching the humidity was like 94 percent and I think the chicks in the eggs drowned. Do you think next time I skip putting water in the incubator? Any advice would be great.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have a repti pro 6000. I do the dry incubating method. My last hatch I only hatched out 8 out of 24. During the 18 days my humidity stayed at 50 percent. Then I put water in it and got it up around 60. When they started hatching the humidity was like 94 percent and I think the chicks in the eggs drowned. Do you think next time I skip putting water in the incubator? Any advice would be great.

I went by what yin suggested. I did a lot of opening the bator during incubation. Just opened the door when I was in the same room, our bedroom. At least 5 times a day. The humidity did drop for me during the last week of incubation. So, I put a tiny piece of paper towel in there, brought it up to the 30% range. During lock down, I only kept the humidity around the low 50% range. When the chicks hatched, I took them out right away, or pretty quick, kept the door open until the humidity went back down. That's the biggest thing, during hatching, keeping that humidity down for the others that haven't hatched. So get those babies out as soon as you can. I just let them dry in the brooder..worked great.
The reason for opening the door the whole time, is for oxygen. They need air. This bator kicks back up in humidity so fast, it doesn't hurt to open it during lock down. In fact, I was opening it during lock down, even before the chicks hatched. They need the oxygen. They don't have the air outlet like the styros. You get used to doing this. No big deal, unless of course, you aren't home to open the door during the day. Maybe someone that is home can?
Hope this helps.

 

[crazzzymike13]

Ok thanks! Yeah I set it up do that hatch day will be on my day off. So it will work out perfect. It makes sense about the oxygen, so I will start doing that.

 

[skyking]

Just finished attempt number 5 after 24 days.

 

[yinepu]

Just finished attempt number 5 after 24 days. Same results as all others - mostly formed dead chicks. Opened the door 3-4 times a day for air exchange. I'm done with this 'bator, need to try a different brand/model to see if it's the 'bator or my eggs. I'm selling off this one, it's not a Reptipro but looks exactly like one just a different color (red) and has the recessed heater/fan inside and the clear plastic shelf and bottom tray and calibrated in centigrade (just leave it at 38 for 100F at the shelf). I also have a Reptipro auto egg turner. Both for $120 + shipping, may sell separately.

if it were a Reptipro I would be interested... but personally i wouldn't want one of those red ones (I've seen them on eBay)

 

[Cynthia12]

Mine did good! )

I have to add something here. That had to be one of the easiest clean up jobs on a bator that I've ever done. Very easy!