[Stereo]

I've just picked up one of these cheap as the turning motor had failed. Not a problem as I want to use it as a hatcher. First attempt, eggs candled and put in at day 18, channels filled, temp at 36.5. Disaster. Only 1 hatched out of 24. I found the manual online and it says that the temp should be 39 degrees for hens. I tried the thermometer out of my Octagon and this does read 39. However, when I put the thermometer on the rails where the eggs are, it's only 33 degrees. The original therm reads 31.

Anyone got any experience with this machine? I'm not at all sure what has gone wrong. It was in the shed so maybe got too cold over night or something?

[chrismahon]

I'm not familiar with this machine Stereo, but it sounds like it doesn't have a fan (still air machine) so it would be set to 39. Fan assisted are set to 37. However my experience has shown that the ambient temperature some machines are used at is critical, as is the actual point of temperature measurement.


33 or 31 degrees will cost you the hatch, as you have found out. I think what went wrong here is both the temperature setting you used for that machine, combined with the ambient temperature of the room you were hatching in which needs to be at least 20 degrees (perhaps 25) or you will need additional insulation or to operate it in a warmed box. Loss of heat around the casing has caused major problems for us in the past with a Suro20, when the entire hatch was up to 3 days late.

[Marches Farmer]

We keep our incubators in an unheated brick built veterinary room, where the temperature is fairly consistent.  I have an Italian incubator with a 30cm thermometer that fits through a hole in the lid.  We make sure the bottom of the thermometer is at egg level and have to remember to reduce the temperature then move it upwards out of the way of the chicks before hatching.

[chrismahon]

Sounds like a Covatutto24 semi-automatic Marches Farmer. We have one in an unheated constant temperature area, but we have covered the sides of it with insulating foam and we sit it on a polystyrene sheet. The lowest temperature we have run it at is 13C.

[Stereo]

Thanks, I think it must be the ambient temp. It is still air. I also see in the instructions that you should cover 2 of the vents if only half full, which it was.

To confirm, should the eggs be sitting in air which is 37 deg? If that is the case I could fix a therm at the egg level. The plan (as it's a 48) is to have one half as a hatching area for my Octogan 20's. The other half will be where the chicks end up and a 'wall' will stop them getting back to interfere with the hatching eggs which I think is a problem in the octagon. It sort of worked. The chick did end up on the other side although the surface was too slippery and it couldn't get a grip so maybe a damp towel might be put there which would also boost humidity.

So, partly a success but in reality a huge failure. Live and learn. Will have to create some space under the stairs in the house for it I think. Shed maybe just too cold.

Maybe I just need to look more to my broody hens who I often see as a pan but maybe my biggest asset.

[Penninehillbilly]

The thermometer should swivel down so it's at egg level?
I used kitchen roll on the base, does get soggy and messy though.

[chrismahon]

The eggs should be in air at 37 degrees Stereo. We cut 3mm slices of 28mm foam pipe insulation and sit the eggs on their side on the foam rings. That helps to stop them being moved by hatched chicks. The base has an anti-slip mat so that you don't get splayed-leg chicks, but I think a towel will be just a good.


Broodies do come with their own problems. Heard a report of a chick crushed and we had one badly injured. We've also had a broody eat the chicks as they hatched.

[Penninehillbilly]

We cut 3mm slices of 28mm foam pipe insulation and sit the eggs on their side on the foam rings. That helps to stop them being moved by hatched chicks.

Now that's an idea worth making a note of. 
The base of mine is just metal with lots of holes, not non-slip.
Old poultry keeper told me chicks can get caught up and strangled in silkies leg feathers, another friend pooh pood the idea, then she saw the same thing happen with hers.

[Stereo]

Thanks for all the comments. I've decided to flog all the bits and bobs and invest in a proper Brinsea cabinet job for next year. Just had a really good hatch from an Octagon again so it all seems a bit random. Maybe I'm over-complicating it.