Sighthound 49 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Hi, bought the wife a cheap incubator for Christmas, we used to keep chickens but have never used an incubator, any advice tips etc. It's a manual turning forced air type. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
justin 2 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Hi, bought the wife a cheap incubator for Christmas, we used to keep chickens but have never used an incubator, any advice tips etc. It's a manual turning forced air type. Thanks just keep the water topped up to correct level and make yourself a candler...record dates, times etc for future referrence...and make sure to keep an eye on temperature and airflow around incubator is even as you can affect it by the way you set the eggs...good luck buddy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 as said keep an eye on the water and run it for a good day before setting the eggs to warm it through and settle to the set temp also keep it in a room that has a stable temp as if it changes to much it will affect your hatch rate, just things like direct sunlight or draughts are best avoided. also dont panic if it takes a few hours after setting the eggs to get back up to temp if you adjust it to soon it may well go well over later when your not watching it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tjones3862 3,423 Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 hi what you need is a humidity metre as to much humidity in the incubator caused by to much water is fatal you must keep the water topped up at the hatching stage if you need more advice on this pm me your number and i will have a chat will you , its not just turn it on ,put water in ,put eggs in because there's more to it thanks tj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 most of the humidity metres that are small enough to fit in a little incubator are crap, your better off just filling one of them if you have two sections for water or just half filling if you have only one section, then stop turning and fill up all water trays 3 days proir to hatching. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sighthound 49 Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks guys. Have put the incubation on hold cos I figured any hatching eggs are going to be of low fertility with this cold weather. Plan to start them off at the end of next month. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tjones3862 3,423 Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 most of the humidity metres that are small enough to fit in a little incubator are crap, your better off just filling one of them if you have two sections for water or just half filling if you have only one section, then stop turning and fill up all water trays 3 days proir to hatching. sorry i did'nt go into detail in post but your correct tj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tjones3862 3,423 Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks guys. Have put the incubation on hold cos I figured any hatching eggs are going to be of low fertility with this cold weather. Plan to start them off at the end of next month. no the fertility should'nt be down because of the weather it should remain the same as long as your birds have enough room to move about and keep active but with weather like this heat lamps will be required longer once the eggs have hatched to keep the chicks warm ,give it go you will enjoy the experience tj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sighthound 49 Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks guys. Have put the incubation on hold cos I figured any hatching eggs are going to be of low fertility with this cold weather. Plan to start them off at the end of next month. no the fertility should'nt be down because of the weather it should remain the same as long as your birds have enough room to move about and keep active but with weather like this heat lamps will be required longer once the eggs have hatched to keep the chicks warm ,give it go you will enjoy the experience tj Cheers tjones. I'm starting from scratch, years ago I ordered 12 x day olds, they arrived via Amtrak and we reared them under a heatlamp until they were feathered up, kept chucks for 15 years but had to sell when we moved house. Have you any experience of eggs of ebay? Farmer friends have offered me some eggs but they are a mix of all sorts. Regards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks guys. Have put the incubation on hold cos I figured any hatching eggs are going to be of low fertility with this cold weather. Plan to start them off at the end of next month. no the fertility should'nt be down because of the weather it should remain the same as long as your birds have enough room to move about and keep active but with weather like this heat lamps will be required longer once the eggs have hatched to keep the chicks warm ,give it go you will enjoy the experience tj this is true ,i`ve got a broody sussex it the moment and the cocks still performing they dont seem to bothered by the weather so i assume the eggs should still be fine as long as they dont freeze before you collect them Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tjones3862 3,423 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 what breed are you after because i have names and telephone numbers for most breeders of most breeds all around the uk so i may be able to help you and i would'nt by off ebay tj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sighthound 49 Posted January 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Thanks, looking for half a dozen light sussex and half a dozen ROR. I was surprised the breeds you can get on ebay, just type in 'hatching eggs' eg http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-TOP-QUALITY-L-F-LIGHT-SUSSEX-FERTILIZE-HATCHING-EGGS_W0QQitemZ180453216807QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry?hash=item2a03d99227 I suppose it all depends on the post!!!! Regards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Thanks, looking for half a dozen light sussex and half a dozen ROR. I was surprised the breeds you can get on ebay, just type in 'hatching eggs' eg http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-TOP-QUALITY-L-F-LIGHT-SUSSEX-FERTILIZE-HATCHING-EGGS_W0QQitemZ180453216807QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry?hash=item2a03d99227 I suppose it all depends on the post!!!! Regards. just let me know when your ready mate and i`ll post you some light sussex eggs as thats what i keep, just ask to cover postage if thats o.k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sighthound 49 Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Cheers Trapperman thats what this site should be about I'll pm you later. Thanks again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sighthound 49 Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Well after Trapperman kindly sent me 6 eggs from oxfordshire to Scotland free of charge We had our first go at incubating. Not very successful as only one hatched although 5 of the six were fertile, I broke one when candling and then my incubator thermostat broke! So here is the survivor A friend of a friend has given me a couple of Maran chicks so now she (?)has some company Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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