The Incubator Thread

[emvickrey]

This is my very first incubator, I have the Brinsea Mini Advance and it SEEMS to be absolutely perfect. Though I'm curious how accurate the built in thermometer is? I added a second one and it was about 2 degrees difference and I've read that just a degree off can ruin your chicks so it scares me.

How has your guys experience been with incubators, does it read the correct temp?

I have a brinsea 20. Its not digital. I keep a digital thermo/hydrometer in it. The temps are from 99 to 100 and I don't have a problem with it hurting the chicks. In real life the hen don't stay on the eggs all the time. She gets up to eat and potty and stretch her legs so the temp will drop.

 

[emvickrey]

I have to agree with this. More expensive yes but it saves an awful lots of heart ache and the Brinsea is totally hassle free. Love my 20 with humidity pump but I really do fancy a Brinsea ova easy cabinet

I don't have the humidity pump or turning cradle on mine. I monitor the hydrometer and add water when needed and I turn the eggs 2 to 3 times a day.

 

[emvickrey]

Hi all I'm newer to chickens and would like to know people's thoughts on egg incubators I would love one that you can keep on a counter or table that is self sustaining with a viewing window. A set it and check on it model so any info on brands/models for a decent price I would love input

A Brinsea is great. I've tried the styrofoam models and used them several years but you have to baby sit them. A brinsea you can load it, plug it in and walk away. That is if you get the hydro pump and turning cradle. There are different sizes to accommodate for different amount of eggs. They are expensive but so worth it.

 

[Britney M]

Good to know

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I don't have the humidity pump or turning cradle on mine. I monitor the hydrometer and add water when needed and I turn the eggs 2 to 3 times a day.

I'm lazy and if I need to go anywhere I know everything is taken care of without getting a baby sitter for the incubator.
Plus the other half was buying for me and said get what you want so I thought if he's going to spend some money, he should spend some money!!!
It gave the moths in his wallet a good airing

 

[B520]

Ok one last question.

I have brinsea mini advance and its full of silkie eggs.

In the manual it says to fill half water until lockdown where u then fill it to the brim.

I've then been told to do this but also fill both halves at 10 days remaining.

Which is best?

 

[emvickrey]

I'm lazy and if I need to go anywhere I know everything is taken care of without getting a baby sitter for the incubator.
Plus the other half was buying for me and said get what you want so I thought if he's going to spend some money, he should spend some money!!!
It gave the moths in his wallet a good airing

I say if they are offering, go for it. Get the best.

 

[emvickrey]

Ok one last question.

I have brinsea mini advance and its full of silkie eggs.

In the manual it says to fill half water until lockdown where u then fill it to the brim.

I've then been told to do this but also fill both halves at 10 days remaining.

Which is best?

I personally don't know. I try to keep humidity between 45 and 50% during the whole incubation. I did try something this time that seemed to work out well for all but 1 chick.

 

[emvickrey]

My experiment seemed to go off well for the most part. I set some silkie eggs that had been in the fridge and some that where not. One hen laid them all and I had 13 eggs total to begin with. 7 of the eggs where from the fridge and just 2 developed. The other 5 either where clear blood ring or cloudy. 6 eggs where not in the fridge and they all developed. I did mark the eggs but when it came time for hatching I failed to keep track of which 2 chicks it was.

When lock down got here I took 6 of the eggs and gave them to my silkie hen which had been sitting on 1 egg that I left her so she would still be broody when time came to give her eggs. That egg I tossed when I gave her the 6 eggs I incubated. She only sat on 2 of the eggs so I returned the other 4 to the incubator. I had both fridge eggs in the incubator so I could know which ones they where. Since I failed to do the most important part of the experiment I don't know which chicks they are.

I also did a dry incubation. I added water at lock down and got the humidity up to 45%. I had 1 chick hatch with spraddle leg I still have 1 egg pipped and one not. I've had 6 chicks hatch so far. They where all due on the 7th but I figured the 4 she didn't sit on may need more time.

This is her first chicks to raise. The other 2 times she sat on eggs the chicks died. A snake got 1 egg and the other 2 chicks died after hatching. I was hoping it wasn't her fault.

I will never dry incubate again because I feel that is why the 1 has spraddle legs. I'm working on it so it can join it's other siblings outside with their parents. Oh and I got 4 paint chicks and 2 black/paint split. My hen is a paint and my roo is black. Last time I hatched 4 eggs I got 2 paint and 2 black.

When I try this again I will date the eggs. I'm sure the oldest 5 eggs are the ones that didn't develop.

 

[jake and pippa]

I am novice but had good success this year with goose and chicken eggs. I think the refrigerator may be too cold but I have a wine cooler that seems to be just the right temperature. I put eggs in there in egg cartoons while I collect them for hatch.