WHOOT!! I'm ordering my new incubator!! What racks do I need?

[mick&cori]

I'm literally dancing!

I'm going to order the GQF Sportsman Model 1502 digital incubator TODAY! On the surehatch website, they aren't clear on what egg rack I should get for guineas. Will they work with the chicken racks?

My guinea layed her first egg just yesterday. I was so proud of her.

Hopefully I get my incubator shipped fast enough that I can hatch that baby - and whatever else she lays in the meantime.

Thanks, y'all for being so supportive!

 

[PeepsCA]

Congrats Cory! Spoiled BRAT!

I'm not sure, but I think the chicken egg racks are the ones you need. Ash (GuineaLady93) just bought one, and I know Zaz has one too, so hopefully they will answer the rack size question.

 

[zazouse]

I use the ones for chicken eggs.
I also use a piece of 1'' clear tubing and a funnel attached to it to refill the reservoir threw the side air vent that way i never have to open it.
You are gonna be overrun with guineas in no time, the hatch rate on the GOF here is 90 percent cause ya set and forget, well except to water the reservoir.
You can easily make your money back in one season if you have enough hens.
Oh and make sure you order the one with the hatch box in the bottom cause sometimes you will get an early bird or two and they will fall to the bottom and it is good to have that there with a towel in it to catch them.
If you are going to use it as a hatcher also don't forget to order the hatching trays, unless they come with it, my last one didn't but i already had a hatcher and trays.

PS if you even think you might get into other breeds of birds i would order all the racks, i hatch quail for some people in mine to make extra money

 

[mick&cori]

Congrats Cory! Spoiled BRAT!

I know, right!?!?

It's not really being spoiled - sort of - it's more about being a great debator. Well, that and my DH thinks I'm just so cute that he LOVES to compromise with me. He-he!!

 

[mick&cori]

I use the ones for chicken eggs.
I also use a piece of 1'' clear tubing and a funnel attached to it to refill the reservoir threw the side air vent that way i never have to open it.
You are gonna be overrun with guineas in no time, the hatch rate on the GOF here is 90 percent cause ya set and forget, well except to water the reservoir.
You can easily make your money back in one season if you have enough hens.
Oh and make sure you order the one with the hatch box in the bottom cause sometimes you will get an early bird or two and they will fall to the bottom and it is good to have that there with a towel in it to catch them.
If you are going to use it as a hatcher also don't forget to order the hatching trays, unless they come with it, my last one didn't but i already had a hatcher and trays.

PS if you even think you might get into other breeds of birds i would order all the racks, i hatch quail for some people in mine to make extra money

Ooohhhh!! Those great ideas!

I ordered the incubator, the chicken egg racks, and the duck egg racks.

I'm not planning on hatching ducks, but I'm thinking about hatching turkeys.

Where do you list/sell your extras? Do people contact you to "place hatching orders"?

Gosh, this waiting for delivery is EXCRUCIATING!!!

 

[r4eboxer]

I had to google that model and WOW that's one bad boy bator!! Is this your first incubator? that sucker will do a ton of eggs. I started with a hovabator 1602 that will do 42 eggs. I just bought a little giant that also does 42 eggs at a time. Maybe in a year or so I will work up to doing that many eggs at a time. Are you planning a meat program? or a chick selling program? I'm thinking I'd like to do both and am going to start working on my 'skills' with 20 or so at a time.

Congrats on your purchase, did you get it yet?

 

[mick&cori]

I had to google that model and WOW that's one bad boy bator!! Is this your first incubator? that sucker will do a ton of eggs. I started with a hovabator 1602 that will do 42 eggs. I just bought a little giant that also does 42 eggs at a time. Maybe in a year or so I will work up to doing that many eggs at a time. Are you planning a meat program? or a chick selling program? I'm thinking I'd like to do both and am going to start working on my 'skills' with 20 or so at a time.

Congrats on your purchase, did you get it yet?

Hi r4eboxer!

This is not my first incubator. I initially bought a Little Giant - still air incubator. I hatched some eggs last year, but didn't have a great hatch rate. Out of the 35 chickens (White Rocks) that I did hatched, we kept 11 hens to replenish our stock, and a rooster and 3 hens for a friend to start a new stock. The rest of them went to a butcher. It costs about $2/chicken - but they butcher, clean, cut, package, weigh and mark them. I drop off chickens and pick up packages. It's fantastic.

What started the search for a bigger incubator was - my neighbor gave me a dozen turkey eggs to hatch. I was unsure that I wanted any - but figured I could take them to the butcher if needed. Not a single one hatched. Then, the same neighbor had one of his guinea hens sitting - and she decided to leave her nest, so no guineas either. I was pretty sad about it, and it was close to my b-day - so, my DH said we could find a place to buy some poults and keets. (Peeps says its because I'm spoiled!! I'm not denying it - just point out what she said!!

)

Well, after doing tons of research

, I found a place about 100 miles from my house. We made the drive, bought 5 poults and 5 keets. Then, I started debating with my DH why we need a new incubator. I mean, OBVIOUSLY, we spent a lot of time and money for very little return. He decides I'm right (or just gives me my way because I really am spoiled and he doesn't like to see me disappointed

)... and lets me order the Sportsman Incubator.

I still haven't received the incubator.

I will NEVER do business with SureHatch again . They gave me a false tracking number, lied about the delivery date, and it's pulling teeth to get a return email or an answered call

. My DH called GQF, and was told by a manager that they are behind on building the Sportsman 1502 and hopefully it will get built today and shipped tomorrow.

I will let everyone know how that turns out!

This year, I want to do both meat and selling. I've been doing research on testing, getting my certification, etc. I'm still not quite sure where to sell the extra birds, but I'm willing to try. Let me know what you decide.

 

[PeepsCA]

"Spoiled with great debating skills", uh huh, suuuuure Cori, lol. No I agree, you need a bigger, better 'bator, to make it all worth it. I do too, I just don't want to spend the money yet, lol. Sorry to hear/read about the shipping delay/runaround from SureHatch, if I ever get a Sportsman... I'll remember where not to order one from. What is it these days about having to pull teeth in order to get good service, some businesses just don't care any more. Seems to be the trend lately, come on America, get with it!

 

[r4eboxer]

Well mick&corey you must provide me with lessons for the great debate

I'd love to have a bigger bator too and will get one when I am ready to spend that kind of money. What I do want is a plucker. I want one big enough to do geese and turkeys in. That will be my first purchase when we sell our house in town. I can do 84 eggs at a time right now but really don't want to hand pluck KWIM?

So sorry you had disappointments with your hatches and your broody hens. Do let us know when you get it and set some eggs in it. Sorry your having such a difficult time with the seller. I'll be sure to make a metal note as well and not order from them. Geez when will they learn that honesty is the best policy. They should have just let you know they were on back order!

 

[mick&cori]

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!

I got my 'bator! We are putting some in tomorrow, then more in next week.

So, the "2 day delivery" that I paid $78 for got here in 2 weeks. NEVER USE SUREHATCH!

There seems to be a pretty large demand for Ameraucanas, so I'm thinking of hatching them to help make some of the money I spent back faster.