- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 5,192
- Location
- Bellmere, QLD
- Website
- www.selfsufficientme.com
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- Sub-Tropical
I received the following question (in the quote) via email today and I've decided where possible and appropriate I'm going to start posting more of these "email questions" here in the forum so they may be useful for others.
The question is about no name Chinese made egg incubators sold on eBay and pertains to a post I wrote Cheap Chinese chicken egg incubators - do they work? and also a video I made (at the end of this message).
About the temperature, it's very important the eggs are incubated at a regular temp throughout the whole incubation process. Rises and drops in temp for any extended period of time can be detrimental to egg development.
Having said that, humidity is important around hatching time because it makes the eggs easier for the chicks beaks to break so I ensure the humidity is around 65-70% at that time (others may say more humidity over final 3 days but 65/70 is my figures).
If you find a water bowl works better that's fine - just ensure the little fellas don't hatch out and accidentally jump into it (if the bowl is above).
Humidity management can become rather complex. As a backyard chicken/quail/duck enthusiast, I prefer to keep it simple as I detailed above and I've always achieved good results.
I purchased mine from eBay here
The question is about no name Chinese made egg incubators sold on eBay and pertains to a post I wrote Cheap Chinese chicken egg incubators - do they work? and also a video I made (at the end of this message).
I watched your youtube walkthrough of the no-name incubator and found it interesting. I have the 52 egg version and would like to ask you, do you keep the temperature at the same heat or do you vary it as the hatch goes through (every 5 days). Also, do you find keeping the 2water channels full is enough humidity or do you sometimes place a small water bowl inside the incubator? I have a hygrometer that lets me know the RH and a different sized water bowl keeps it at the suggested levels as per the paperwork that came with it. Thx for the video, it was helpful.
About the temperature, it's very important the eggs are incubated at a regular temp throughout the whole incubation process. Rises and drops in temp for any extended period of time can be detrimental to egg development.
I try to keep the temp at a constant 37.5 ºC (100 ºF) and I ensure the incubator is running and calibrated at least 24 hours before placing the eggs in so I know the temp is steady. I do this by using a commercial grade thermometre (cost about $16) off set against the units own display thermometre and I adjust the temp slowly over time until it is calibrated. From memory, for my last batch of eggs the displayed temp on the unit was 42 ºC (but it was actually operating at 37.5).
For humidity, I do find the channels provided within the unit is fine. I'm not obsessed about humidity and I'll wait until the low humidity alarm sounds (at around 45%) before I act and place more water in the channels. Even if it falls a little lower than that I wouldn't worry too much. I'd rather it be slightly dryer than too humid because extended high humidity can produce poor hatching results.
Having said that, humidity is important around hatching time because it makes the eggs easier for the chicks beaks to break so I ensure the humidity is around 65-70% at that time (others may say more humidity over final 3 days but 65/70 is my figures).
If you find a water bowl works better that's fine - just ensure the little fellas don't hatch out and accidentally jump into it (if the bowl is above).
Humidity management can become rather complex. As a backyard chicken/quail/duck enthusiast, I prefer to keep it simple as I detailed above and I've always achieved good results.
I purchased mine from eBay here