Still Air Incubator

[The Chicken Boyy]

I need to get a fan, because with that still air i dont have a good hatch rate. I need to know where to get one and how much does it cost?

 

[The Chicken Boyy]

Anyone know..?

 

[Pick-a-LilyFarm]

Typically any grain store will carry them, or you could install a small computer fan for about 5 bucks. Check out the forum for "building your own incubator". You can also purchase the fan online, just do a search for "Little Giant Circulating Fan". They cost around $35.00. Good Luck!

 

[The Chicken Boyy]

Do you know how to install the computer fan...?

 

[Pick-a-LilyFarm]

I don't use a fan. I have a good success rate with my LG still air and I hand turn. I have chicks hatching as I write this. I should have 8 hatch out of 10. Good Luck with your fan though!!

 

[mraltice]

TSC has them also, but I don't know how much they are. Try www.tractorsupplycompany.com

Good luck!

 

[The Chicken Boyy]

Heyy pick a lily can you explain to me how you set the bator up and how you do the whole incubating process! Please! How much water? How do you turn them? How often?

I have a LG still air with auto turner but i hatch one egg out of 26 and the chick was deformed!

 

[Pick-a-LilyFarm]

Well, I purchased eggs off of Ebay (reluctant), and when they arrived, I did not let them set around to settle out. Figured they settled enough before I noticed the postal driver slid the box in my garage. Anywho...the bator had already been set up for about a day with the two red vent plugs out and the temp is around 101, and filled the water wells in the bator just about half full (all of them). I keep the humidity between 43 - 47, usually I don't have to replace water until the wells are dry. My hygrometer will read around 39 and then I know to replace the water. Then I take the top of an egg carton, and use that to set the eggs in since they usually have openings in them that will allow for air circulation. Then I place my hygrometer in the middle of the egg carton and place my eggs on either side of the hygrometer, but I tip the eggs back so that they are at an angle (mark your eggs on one side). I usually turn them 3 times a day, 7:00am, 3:00pm and 9:00pm, I try to do it the same time every day, but sometimes that is not possible. Just be close to the same time every day. I only candle on the 7th day, 14th day, and 18th day. I think that opening the bator to candle often is too dangerous and causes to many fluctuations. On day 14 after I candle, that is when I crack the eggs that look like they are not developing. Then I continue with the turning of the eggs, and keeping the humidity averaging 45, and wait until the 18th day. On the 18th day, I candle, take the eggs out of the carton and lay the hygrometer in between the eggs (in the middle of the bator), fill the water wells, add three little dishes of water, and a sponge if needed to get the humidity up to about 65, replace the two vent plugs and wait. I forgot to mention that my hygrometer reads temp too, and it is below the top of the eggs and reads about 101, then I take an Omron temperature probe with a thermocouple wire and put that through one of the holes in the top of the bator and and get the wire as close to the top of an egg without touching it and tweek the bator until the probe reads close to 102, sometimes as high as 102.5, but remember my hygrometer temp reads 101. Sometimes during the day, temps will fluctuate, so I end up adjusting the temp, but I keep and eye on it. Everytime you adjust your temp, wait it out for an hour before adjusting again. 21 days later, you have chicks!!! When the chicks start to pip, it can take up to 24 hours for them to zip around the egg. Don't panic and think that the membrane has dried out, and you have to help it out...if your humidity is good throughout the hatch, the little buggers should hatch. Good Luck!!

 

[The Chicken Boyy]

Am confused about the egg carton. I dont understand how you use that and the purpose of it. Whats the hygrometer/thermometer you use?

 

[Pick-a-LilyFarm]

This is a picture of how I set my eggs up with the hygrometer/thermometer (springfield), that I purchased at walmart. I take the top of an egg carton, and depending on how many eggs I have, I cut the sides on the carton down a bit so I can tip the eggs. I just tip them back and forth, no spinning them around or anything like that. Play around with an egg carton top, by trimming down the sides and placing some store bought eggs in it. I think if you go to my BYC page, and can see some more pictures...I took them today, but need to add some more to show the whole hatch of 9 babies....Carol