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

[ChcknNurse]

I tried the salt calibration in a gallon size bag and a quart and got 10 points difference . I used asmall water bottle lid.and accepted the 74%

 

[ChcknNurse]

Okay makes total sense. I was thinking the liner was on the bottom above the troughs.

 

[silkiecuddles]

hmmm. I did it with a bottle cap in a little ziploc. It came out to 70%. I figured out my humidity was messed because the lid wasn't on completely.

 

[nhrocks]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, didn't read the entire thread. Has anyone used this incubator to hatch geese? If so, how many eggs did it fit? And any tips for hatching waterfowl in it, regarding humidity?

I hatched chickens in it last year, and got 12/18 hatched, which I thought wasn't bad for a first try. Eggtopsies revealed 5 shrink wrapped fully developed chicks and one scrambled egg, so I think I just need to keep the darn thing closed until they all hatch next time!

Thanks,
Amy

 

[silkiecuddles]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, didn't read the entire thread. Has anyone used this incubator to hatch geese? If so, how many eggs did it fit? And any tips for hatching waterfowl in it, regarding humidity?

I hatched chickens in it last year, and got 12/18 hatched, which I thought wasn't bad for a first try. Eggtopsies revealed 5 shrink wrapped fully developed chicks and one scrambled egg, so I think I just need to keep the darn thing closed until they all hatch next time!

Thanks,
Amy

Hey, Amy. I'm new to incubating, but Brinseas are pretty much the best incubator, I've read. I currently have 12 duck eggs and 8 chicken eggs together in mine. These incubators can be used to hatch any egg. Parrot, goose, duck, chicken, etc.
I think shrink-wrapped chicks is caused by opening the lid, because it lets humidity out.
Good luck!

 

[scflock]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, didn't read the entire thread. Has anyone used this incubator to hatch geese? If so, how many eggs did it fit? And any tips for hatching waterfowl in it, regarding humidity?

I hatched chickens in it last year, and got 12/18 hatched, which I thought wasn't bad for a first try. Eggtopsies revealed 5 shrink wrapped fully developed chicks and one scrambled egg, so I think I just need to keep the darn thing closed until they all hatch next time!

Thanks,
Amy

I'm running my fifth batch of the year through my first Brinsea. The last two batches I have made myself wait until day 22 to open the incubator, and have had my best hatches ever, 17/19 and 22/23

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, didn't read the entire thread. Has anyone used this incubator to hatch geese? If so, how many eggs did it fit? And any tips for hatching waterfowl in it, regarding humidity?

I hatched chickens in it last year, and got 12/18 hatched, which I thought wasn't bad for a first try. Eggtopsies revealed 5 shrink wrapped fully developed chicks and one scrambled egg, so I think I just need to keep the darn thing closed until they all hatch next time!

Thanks,
Amy

Sorry not used it for geese. Drop by the geese section of the forum for the experts advice on humidity etc https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/47/geese
Very true keep that lid closed after lockdown

I'm running my fifth batch of the year through my first Brinsea. The last two batches I have made myself wait until day 22 to open the incubator, and have had my best hatches ever, 17/19 and 22/23

Fifth batch I need to catch up I've only done three. I'm having withdrawal symptoms the incubator is away for now untill my chicks are a little older and the brooding shed is empty again

 

[scflock]

Fifth batch

I need to catch up I've only done three. I'm having withdrawal symptoms the incubator is away for now untill my chicks are a little older and the brooding shed is empty again

Since Christmas, there have only been 4 days that my incubator wasn't running

 

[ChcknNurse]

Last time I set eggs I had the same problem with the difference after I put eggs in. I got a spot check thermometer and put it in the vent hole and went with that one. 3 different thermometers and 3 different temperatures. It was crazy making!

I tried putting my brinsea spot ck thru the vent hole, also. But the problem I found was it's too close to the heating element and fan. So I put it just under the lid near the eggs. This gave me a better reading. After eggs were added, more Fluctuations. But, it caused the glass thermometer to go one degree lower with the lid not tight. Since they were still pretty consistent, opted to just pop it under the lid to verify, every couple days, then pull it back out and let the lid fit well again. Very quickly, the octagon returns to 99.5 with the lid fitting snug.

I was using the incubator warehouse therm/hygrometer too. But, same issue of lid not fitting tight. Checked a small terrarium hygrometer and it sits against the back wall and I see it is consistent. So, leaving it all alone for now.

 

[scflock]

I tried putting my brinsea spot ck thru the vent hole, also. But the problem I found was it's too close to the heating element and fan. So I put it just under the lid near the eggs. This gave me a better reading. After eggs were added, more Fluctuations. But, it caused the glass thermometer to go one degree lower with the lid not tight. Since they were still pretty consistent, opted to just pop it under the lid to verify, every couple days, then pull it back out and let the lid fit well again. Very quickly, the octagon returns to 99.5 with the lid fitting snug.

I was using the incubator warehouse therm/hygrometer too. But, same issue of lid not fitting tight. Checked a small terrarium hygrometer and it sits against the back wall and I see it is consistent. So, leaving it all alone for now.

I find that if I bend the wire right at the top of the plastic of the probe, I can turn it so that it misses the heater and bands. This also makes the probe kind of lay flat once it gets to egg level, and is a little easier to "drive" around the incubator