Styrofoam Incubators Club

[BertandMary]

When my ducklings knocked it off, every once in awhile I opened the incubator and put it back on the eggs

ok thanks

 

[lucyludy]

This is a great thread and thank you all for such great advice! I have a Hovabator styrofoam incubator. My very first try was a great success but 3 tries after haven't been at all. This last hatch I only had 1 hatch and she was 2 days early so I'm confused. I'm trying the dry start now and marked the air bubble to see which ones grow. Fingers crossed.

 

[beetandsteet]

Just locked down. I have a 4200 farm inovators bator. Should i leave out both red caps or only one dor now. Or put both back in?

I usually leave both out after day 18 for ventilation

 

[beetandsteet]

This is a great thread and thank you all for such great advice! I have a Hovabator styrofoam incubator. My very first try was a great success but 3 tries after haven't been at all. This last hatch I only had 1 hatch and she was 2 days early so I'm confused. I'm trying the dry start now and marked the air bubble to see which ones grow. Fingers crossed.

Hovabators out of any of the styrofoam incubators are the best quality. A chick hatching 2 days early can indicate too high incubation temperature. You may want to check your thermometers and temperature gauge. Also, a large number of early quitters (blood rings) can indicate improper temperature. You may want to keep records this time on daily temperature/humidity highs and lows, so you can see what goes wrong. Have you also considered the quality of your eggs? My own eggs from my backyard have a 60-100% hatch rate, while some eggs from the neighbor down the street have around a 30% hatch rate--in the same incubator, same hatch. Shipped eggs have a lower hatch rate also. If you're using your own flocks eggs, you may want to evaluate the chickens' diet and condition. Also, how the eggs are stored prior to incubation is important. Don't refrigerate them, and don't let them get above 70 degrees. Don't let them sit before incubation longer than 7 days (to get the best hatch rate).
Please let us know how your hatch goes!

 

[beetandsteet]

lol I never sleep if they hatch at night. I lay in bed and every 5 minutes I check on them. If I fall asleep at like 10 it will be 10:10 when I wake up and I'm thinking "oh no! I slept for 10 MINUTES that's way to long,what if they already hatched!! DANGIT why did I fall asleep

"

LOL me too!

 

[beetandsteet]

So got a question about lock down. The sensor which controls the thetmostat sits on top of the eggs. Where do you place it during lock down? The chicks will knock it off after hatch causing over heating. Will check back later for answers. I am sure there is an obvious answer in the instructions but we followed the instructions on BYC to toss out the instructions which come with the LG 9300. LOL

I'd say zip-tie it to a small board that's the same height as the eggs. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[beetandsteet]

Add us to the list!
I agree, the LG stinks, big time. We've tried 3 batches so far. The first time we mistakenly thought the thing was accurate, and when we put a thermometer in it, discovered it was only 95 in there. Turned it up a couple points, and it spiked to 106. The following morning it had spiked to 106. Cooked eggs.
The 2nd time it seemed to be doing good, thought we had it holding steady(we had installed a fan we had around here with a battery connection) so we put the eggs in...fan got pulled loose and another spike to 104* this time. I didn't think it had been long, but we reconnected the fan and kept moving forward. Day 11 we had glowing eggs still(quail), so we opened them up, 1 cooked egg and not any development. The spike happened in the first few days so it killed them quick I guess.
We started the 3rd round today. new fan, computer one, and we spliced it into an old cord, so no battery powered losses. 3 thermometers inside, 2 with hygrometers that are digital and an aquarium one. We're doing the dry hatch method, but still have to put some water in since we are Phoenix AZ area.

Hope you have a better hatch this time! You're right, when embryos are young they are a whole lot more sensitive to temperature spikes. Make sure you don't put the water in the water wells--if you add too much there's no easy way to take the water out! I use the bottom of a solo cup, cut to about 2-3 inches tall for pre-lockdown humidity. With the dry method you want to aim for about 30-35% humidity.

 

[lucyludy]

Hovabators out of any of the styrofoam incubators are the best quality. A chick hatching 2 days early can indicate too high incubation temperature. You may want to check your thermometers and temperature gauge. Also, a large number of early quitters (blood rings) can indicate improper temperature. You may want to keep records this time on daily temperature/humidity highs and lows, so you can see what goes wrong. Have you also considered the quality of your eggs? My own eggs from my backyard have a 60-100% hatch rate, while some eggs from the neighbor down the street have around a 30% hatch rate--in the same incubator, same hatch. Shipped eggs have a lower hatch rate also. If you're using your own flocks eggs, you may want to evaluate the chickens' diet and condition. Also, how the eggs are stored prior to incubation is important. Don't refrigerate them, and don't let them get above 70 degrees. Don't let them sit before incubation longer than 7 days (to get the best hatch rate). 
Please let us know how your hatch goes!

Thank you! Temp could be the issue as it fluctuates. I'm monitoring it now like the suggestions with other thermometers inside to make sure the readings are accurate. 99.5 is the norm but it goes 99.0 to 100 here and there. I've been using my own eggs from my chickens and their diet has always been good - but I'll look into maybe there's something I'm missing. Thanks again!

 

[BertandMary]

first pip day 20 using LG 9300 still air. It was one right under the heating element so it stands to reason that it would be first. Was a bit of a surprise. We expected tomorrow, which is day 21. Hopefully we will get an April Fools

 

[beetandsteet]

first pip day 20 using LG 9300 still air. It was one right under the heating element so it stands to reason that it would be first. Was a bit of a surprise. We expected tomorrow, which is day 20. Hopefully we will get an April Fools

Awesome!! The chicks are on their way!!!!