THE Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco Thread; Hatches, etc. (PICS)

[Frost Homestead]

I figured this would be as good a place as any to ask for others' opinions. I have an eco 20 and about 2 months ago I went ahead and ordered the auto-turner. When I got the auto-turner I was initially disappointed that it moved sooooo slowly, nothing at all like wheat happens when I walk over and turn the whole incubator.

SO- I have had two hatches since buying the turner and my hatch rate has dropped significantly. (usually have 50-75% hatches and these two were both below 50%) Not only that...but I have had multiple chicks hatch several DAYS late, I had one hatch today on DAY 24. I have had to cull several of them for leg deformities, something I have *never* experienced when I was turning them manually.

Has anyone else noticed reduced/problem hatches after relying solely on the auto-turner? I'm ready to get rid of it and do it manually again...

 

[immyjay54]

I figured this would be as good a place as any to ask for others' opinions. I have an eco 20 and about 2 months ago I went ahead and ordered the auto-turner. When I got the auto-turner I was initially disappointed that it moved sooooo slowly, nothing at all like wheat happens when I walk over and turn the whole incubator.

SO- I have had two hatches since buying the turner and my hatch rate has dropped significantly. (usually have 50-75% hatches and these two were both below 50%) Not only that...but I have had multiple chicks hatch several DAYS late, I had one hatch today on DAY 24. I have had to cull several of them for leg deformities, something I have *never* experienced when I was turning them manually.

Has anyone else noticed reduced/problem hatches after relying solely on the auto-turner? I'm ready to get rid of it and do it manually again...

I use the auto turner in my Genesis 1588 but don't have the turner for the Brinsea ECO 20. I turned it by hand 9 AM 5 PM 1 AM and had not problems. I have heard that deformed feet etc comes from humidity not being right but I don't know for sure. Never had it. If you had good luck without the turner then I would go back to not using it.
Jim

 

[Fred's Hens]

I figured this would be as good a place as any to ask for others' opinions. I have an eco 20 and about 2 months ago I went ahead and ordered the auto-turner. When I got the auto-turner I was initially disappointed that it moved sooooo slowly, nothing at all like wheat happens when I walk over and turn the whole incubator.

SO- I have had two hatches since buying the turner and my hatch rate has dropped significantly. (usually have 50-75% hatches and these two were both below 50%) Not only that...but I have had multiple chicks hatch several DAYS late, I had one hatch today on DAY 24. I have had to cull several of them for leg deformities, something I have *never* experienced when I was turning them manually.

Has anyone else noticed reduced/problem hatches after relying solely on the auto-turner? I'm ready to get rid of it and do it manually again...

Sally Sunshine is a great advisor on incubating, but I'll take a stab at this. Two things tell me the temp is too low. Legs and feet plus delayed hatching. Both signs of temp being around 99F. That's a tad low, imho.

 

[DanEP]

I agree with Fred on the temps being to low. I have the eco 20 with the turner and always use it. After setting about 8 times with it I've never had below a 80% hatch rate. My temp is about 100 degrees which is a little high and they usually start hatching late on day 20 which is a little early. But out of about 175 chicks I've only had one that didn't survive.
Try raising you temp a little and give the turner another try. It makes life a lot simpler and I think the less you handle the eggs the better and the turner does its job a lot gentler than I can turning by hand.

 

[Frost Homestead]

As far as I could tell the temp. for these hatches wasn't low, I checked it pretty regularly and it stayed right under 100. Strange things is, before I got the auto-turner I would usually have at least one chick hatch a day early. Having so many hatch late is really strange. Before when I was just tilting the incubator to turn the eggs I probably rotated it like 6-8 times a day at least. I'm probably just going to do another hatch without it and see what happens. Thanks for the input y'all!

 

[Long Last Farm]

Hi! Don't know if this is the right place to post this, but here goes....I have a brinsea octogon eco 20. It has been great, but the auto turner just quit as i was about to hatch some shipped eggs. I am going to tip it manually throughout this hatch. Idon't have the instruction sheet . Ideally, how many times I day should I be tipping the unit?

Thanks for all replies!
Pat

 

[immyjay54]

Hi! Don't know if this is the right place to post this, but here goes....I have a brinsea octogon eco 20. It has been great, but the auto turner just quit as i was about to hatch some shipped eggs. I am going to tip it manually throughout this hatch. Idon't have the instruction sheet . Ideally, how many times I day should I be tipping the unit?

Thanks for all replies!
Pat

I'm not susre what the manual said but I do know that when I use mine I do it 3 times in 24 hours. 9 AM 5 PM and 1 AM I've not had any problems. I've never used the auto turner.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm not susre what the manual said but I do know that when I use mine I do it 3 times in 24 hours. 9 AM 5 PM and 1 AM I've not had any problems. I've never used the auto turner.

x2

 

[Long Last Farm]

Thanks, immjay!

 

[Long Last Farm]

And thanks,Fred!