The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: FiB on March 12, 2012, 01:01:36 pm
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Hi all, have managed to borrow an incubator, but no instructions and previous user has had no luck.... It looks like a toolbox when closed. Inside is like a coolbox, with a plexiglass lid and a temperature dial. It has a thermomenter inside which you can see, so I will hopefully be able to fiddle about and get the right temparature. No humidity control though - so any tips to try and get a good humidity in there. Then I will be manually turning 180 degrees 3 times a day? humidity I'm most thinking about. Cant wait - have 6 eggs of Maran (??) or Sussex light x light sussex cockrel.
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Yes FiB, turn 180 degrees 3 x a day for first 18 days. Humidity depends on your building but a small pot of water should do. At 18 days drop 0.5 degrees to 37 and add another pot of water. Problem with manual turning is the repeated handling increases risk of bacterial infection considerably and the temperature control in the first 7 days is critical, so you will have to be quick. Make sure unit is sterilised and use egg sanitant. Double check the thermometer with another. Half a degree out is too much.
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no clues as to make?
how about a picture? depending on where the thermometer is could affect the temperature needed.
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I have a manual incubator. I turn the eggs three times a day at roughly regular intervals (sometimes I forget) Each time I turn I give the eggs a spray with a plant sprayer. Three or four days before hatching I spray them a bit
more. I can't quite read the thermometer but it "feels" the right temperature, a bit more than nicely warm.
I also have an all singing all dancing incubator that turns the eggs five times in 24hours, keeps the temp. and humidity constant and bleeps alarmingly if anything goes wrong.
I get the same pecentage of hatch out of both!
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Thanks all - best be quick before internet crashes again - been without it most of week Agghh. Will get them on the go tomorrow then. Thanks agian, Fi