tips and secrets of the GQF 1502 sportsman...

[duluthralphie]

The GQF 1502 is just one cabinet with a hatcher in the bottom. Will it affect the remaining eggs if I raise up the humidity to accommodate the hatching eggs? I am lost. Do I just leave it be and don't change the humidity at all? Thanks

I have no idea what to tell you, Sorry, I do not hatch in my incubator. I am even trying to figure out some way to put another tray in the bottom of mine and have it turn with the other three.

 

[cmom]

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If you figure it out please let me know and if I figure something out I'll tell you.

 

[cmom]

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When I first got my cabinet I hatched in it too but it was not ideal. I bought a second cabinet but have since sold it and use my styrofoam incubators to hatch in. It actually works better for me as I can put different eggs in different incubator/hatchers. I do mark all of my eggs so I know where each one came from. This is just what works for me and I don't have to worry about the humidity. A couple of times I mismarked my calendar and thought I had another week before the eggs were supposed to hatch and they started hatching in the cabinet. They hatched fine. I was busy picking a lot of chicks out from under the hatch tray in the bottom.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Some people candle their eggs and watch the expansion of the large end of the shell that the chick pips to get it's first gulp of air. I do not check this as it is not going to change the hatch rate. It is what it is. Also some people weigh the eggs to see how much moisture they loose and I don't do that either. This is not rocket science. As long as the parent stock is fed good feed the chicks should be strong. I feed my birds a good 20% protein feed for breeders. My youngsters get a 20% protein grower feed and my chicks get a good medicated chick starter. People are what they eat and the same applies to most creatures. As long as the humidity and temperature are kept within a certain range (my incubation is usually between 30 & 40% and my hatchers around 75%, and my temperature around 99.5 I have good hatches). It doesn't have to be exact but close. My temperature generally varies around ½ degree.

I'm curious if you don't candle the how do you remove the non starters or the ones that quit?

 

[cmom]

I candle my eggs when I put them in the hatchers and then take out the eggs that aren't going to hatch. If I have an ify I mark the egg. Sometimes they hatch and sometimes they don't.

 

[stryker]

I candle my eggs when I put them in the hatchers and then take out the eggs that aren't going to hatch. If I have an ify I mark the egg. Sometimes they hatch and sometimes they don't.

That is what I do.

 

[KF0002]

Anybody have pics of the inside and out of the new Digital Sportsman 1502? Our older one came with a hatching tray cover and I have read that the newer models do not come with one. We had ours sectioned off so we could identify different breeds at hatch when they looked similar.

 

[cmom]

Anybody have pics of the inside and out of the new Digital Sportsman 1502? Our older one came with a hatching tray cover and I have read that the newer models do not come with one. We had ours sectioned off so we could identify different breeds at hatch when they looked similar.

The hatching trays aren't even metal like the older cabinets. My cabinet is an older one too that I have had for years but I don't hatch in it.

 

[KF0002]

The hatching trays aren't even metal like the older cabinets. My cabinet is an older one too that I have had for years but I don't hatch in it.

I have a Genesis 1588 I plan on hatching in for the most part but may still hatch some in the main incubator if I need to. I found a pic online of the newer hatching tray and it is pretty deep. I don't think it would need a cover. Our old Sportsman looked like yours. We sold it with the intention of buying a newer one right away, but you know how life happens. I fell in love with the digital command center and our old incubator was showing a lot of wear and tear. The bottom was starting to break down in the bottom of it. I am now in nursing school and I'm still having a hard time justifying spending $850 for a new incubator right now. It would make my life so much easier though.. I have eggs stacked on top of eggs in the auto turner of my Genesis. Not recommended I know, but I still hand turn them from time to time to make sure they get turned adequately. It is a wee bit aggravating because I am so spoiled to the luxury of our old Sportsman. I miss that old girl.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

I have a Genesis 1588 I plan on hatching in for the most part but may still hatch some in the main incubator if I need to.  I found a pic online of the newer hatching tray and it is pretty deep.  I don't think it would need a cover.  Our old Sportsman looked like yours.  We sold it with the intention of buying a newer one right away, but you know how life happens.  I fell in love with the digital command center and our old incubator was showing a lot of wear and tear.  The bottom was starting to break down in the bottom of it.  I am now in nursing school and I'm still having a hard time justifying spending $850 for a new incubator right now.  It would make my life so much easier though.. I have eggs stacked on top of eggs in the auto turner of my Genesis.  Not recommended I know, but I still hand turn them from time to time to make sure they get turned adequately.  It is a wee bit aggravating because I am so spoiled to the luxury of our old Sportsman.  I miss that old girl.      

I have 2 brinsea Octo 20 with the heat pump do I will be using them from now on to hatch in. I need more space to hatch.

Am considering purchasing the 1588 to use as a Hatcher. I'm concerned about the humidity as I have never used one. Can you explain your procedure? Thx