The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:07 am Post subject: Incubator Question

When we move to Sweden, there is a good chance I'll want/need to hatch out my own eggs. So far I've only ever bought Growers and POL birds. I don't think I'll ever need to do more that 50 eggs, and it should take both hens and geese.

Here come the questions.

What are the advantages of auto - semiauto - manual

I quite like the look of the Maino PioPio - how would this comapre to a Brinsea (which seem to be very popular)

what other equipment should I add to my (ever growing) list

Any tips i should know? anything you wish you'd known before you'd bought your incubator?

All comments and advice welcome.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

i don't know if this helps
i brought a cheap incubator and it was the worst thing i ever did ,it wasn't very well insulated and just couldn't cope with ups and downs of temp at all,7 sets of 12 set over 2 years and 1 egg hatch,oh and that was a cockeral ,brought a more expensive one now and it's atuo turning so it will turn itself so i will not forget when there's work to do ,don't know if it's any help at all
suz

nigel · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject:

that helps Suz, you get what you pay for

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

oh still prefers a broodies.
it cost me a fortune in eggs over the last 2 years .just keep your fingers x ed ffor me this year as it's gettting disheartening ,easpecially withthe children counting down and helping with the turning ,they know not to count their chicks before they hatch ,but none time after time was awful ,
suz

Fangs · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject:

manaual means you must turn each egg individually, which can be a pain.

semi auto means that each egg is turned by turnnig one thnig on the incubator, so there is probs a handle on it somewhere to turn the whole device.

with both manaul and semi auto the eggs must be turned 3 or 5 times a day. neva turn an even nubmer ofn times a day, cant reember the exact reason now, but know it must be odd. 3 at the least. so once when you get up, lets say 8, then again at 4, and then at say about 10.

automatic does this all for you, so no worries.

i started off with a brinsea octagon 10, and have found it really easy to use. it onky holds 12 bantam eggs though. id say brinsea are the ebst from what people have said, but i personally do not hav any other experience.

havent really got any tips, only using an incubator twice and all. but tis good fun!

Fangs

when i got my bator, i had a package. it contained disinfectant for everytime after you use the incubator. a special chick feeder and drinker. an infa red heat lamp/ highly recommeneded, as this way the chicks get natural light, instead of light 24/7, much better for their devlopment. plus they dont panic when they go outside for the night. plus a book, also buy a book. helps loads!

fenwoman · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject:

I cannot recopmmend the hovobator highly enough. It will do the amount you need. Because it is made from high density pol;ystyrene it has excellent insulation prioperties. Last year my lecky went off 2 days before hatch date. It was off for 8 hours. All the chicks hatched simply because I kept lid closed and it retained heat.
I would say get autoturn if you can simply because you cannot forget or perhaps not turn enough. In theory you load it up, and candle at 10 days, then close again and not open until they have hatched. The thing I wish I had known about was the importance of correct humidity and how crap those little hygrometers are. I have since bought only digital thermo/hygrometers and have had better hatch rates.

CP · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject:

The reason for turning an odd number of times is so the eggs don't sit on the same side night after night. Nightime is usually the longest break between turnings, unless you are an insomniac! Shocked

We use a Novital Covatutto 20 automatic. Had no problems with it so far. Wink

The only awkward thing is you have to remove the lid to top up the water for the humidity. If there is one on the market where you don't have to do this it would be easier to use. Wink