Incubator problem - can anyone advise?

OhFunkIt · 06-06-2011, 14:44

This morning my incubator stopped working, as I couldn’t find my spare bulbs I improvised and stuck them in a heated propagator with a hot pack and nipped out to buy more bulbs. It must be the motor as it’s still not working.

This is a big ask; does anyone have a spare incubator that they would be prepared to hire or loan out to me until I get a new one delivered? My broody was happy to sit on another two eggs but still have six that I would like to save if at all possible.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Chez2 · 06-06-2011, 17:18

Ive just switched mine on less than an hour ago so you can come and bring your eggs if you want. How many eggs have you got? I'm about an hours drive from you I think. I'm just off junction 31 of the M1 near Dinnington. I've had almost 100 fertility and hatch but I don't have any power backup should we have a powercut. I'm happy to put them in free of charge at your own risk.

Ive just looked you up on autoroute. I have been to King Ecgbert Road which looks close to you. After rush hour you could make it over here in about 35 minutes.

OhFunkIt · 06-06-2011, 20:17

That’s so kind of you Chez2, thank-you! It’s a bit late now and the thermometer is reading 38°C; I put them in on Sunday. Do you think they will still be viable if I came over to you tomorrow?

Chez2 · 06-06-2011, 20:53

No they wouldn't last that long. I have heard of cases where they have lasted 12 hours in a well insulated incubator. You have nothing to lose but 38 degrees is the max they want to be. I suppose you know that though if you have an incy.

What do you keep or breed? Were they eggs from your own stock? What breed of eggs are you incubating?

I have only put the incy on as someone wanted to buy some eggs and I wanted to do a fertility test first. I won't discard them though I will raise the chicks. I generally hatch from January through to the end of March then I may do the odd hatch after that. Later hatches are broody hatches but I hatched a lot this year as I got nearly all males last year!

Cerid · 06-06-2011, 21:02

Im really sorry I cant be of any help, but what make of incubator do you two have?

Im am looking for an incubator but I dont know what make to go for.

Chez2 · 06-06-2011, 21:10

I have one of these
http://www.homefarmfowls.co.uk/epage...20Auto%20T1%22

They are a bit more expensive than the plastic incubators but they are far superior. They are sturdy cabinets, well insulated and last years. They hold their temperature well and I was incubating in my garage in mine in January this year. I managed to get mine second hand off ebay for half price and it was less than a year old.

A lot of people swear by Brinsea saying you can get spare parts but you can get spare parts for these here in the UK or direct from the manufacturer.

I also have a manual Manio pio pio incubator which I use as a hatcher if I'm staggering hatches or filling it up again as one lot hatch. The temperature and humidity is much more stable in the MS incy.

Don't buy less than a 20 egg incy as its addictive and you will soon be upgrading.

What birds do you keep? Do you breed your own or buy in hatching eggs? I breed my own birds but do buy in hatching eggs too.

Cerid · 06-06-2011, 21:16

I dont currently own any birds but me and my partner are looking into it

He grow with loads of birds and including chickens as he was growing up and I grow up with budgies and other birds (well they were my uncles, and he bred loads).

Would these incubators work for reptile eggs too for example little lizard eggs? Sorry for so much talking and questions.

OhFunkIt - I hope the eggs survive.

Chez2 - the first incubator you said, looks really nice and a good make

Chez2 · 07-06-2011, 06:00

Any incubator would work for lizard eggs but may people use the cheap polystyrene ones. I'mnot sure how good they are at keeping the temperature stable. If you use a cheaper incubator you need to keep the room temperature stable. This can be a problem if you have central heating on in the day but not at night. Do lizard eggs need turning during incubation? Their is a hatcher version of my incy which is much cheaper as it doesn't have the egg tray or turning mechanism. If you want it for both but don't want to spend that much get the semi auto one. You turn a handle and the eggs turn in their tray so at least you don't have to pick each egg up and turn it. The temperture is so even in these incys that you could incubate your lizard eggs in the hatching tray at the bottom. I've had my trays and hatching tray full and had a good hatch. Just make sure the vents are open enough so the eggs can get a good air exchange.

OhFunkIt · 07-06-2011, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chez2

No they wouldn't last that long. I have heard of cases where they have lasted 12 hours in a well insulated incubator. You have nothing to lose but 38 degrees is the max they want to be. I suppose you know that though if you have an incy.

What do you keep or breed? Were they eggs from your own stock? What breed of eggs are you incubating?

I have only put the incy on as someone wanted to buy some eggs and I wanted to do a fertility test first. I won't discard them though I will raise the chicks. I generally hatch from January through to the end of March then I may do the odd hatch after that. Later hatches are broody hatches but I hatched a lot this year as I got nearly all males last year!

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I thought as we were only on day two of the hatch there was a possibility of saving them.

I have Copper Black and Cuckoo Marans, Maran hybrids and my babies: a Light Sussex and three white Araucanas that I hatched myself. The old girls are all rescued and have various minor deformities but have had a few more years of sun on their backs and still seem to be enjoying life.

The hatching eggs my broody is sitting on, and I was attempting to incubate, are Maran hybrids. Will post some pics if the broody hatch is successful!

Cerid, not sure of the brand of the broken incubator as the bins were emptied today. The new one I have ordered is a Covatutto, will PM you to let you know if it’s a good buy.

Cerid · 07-06-2011, 21:56

ohfunkit - The birds you breed look so cool and cute

Thank you, looking forward to your pm

chez2 - Ye its abit hard keeping this house the same temp, theres only 1 room that is usually at the same temp through out the day but cos its the computer room its pretty packed already. Was thinking of getting an incubator that I can control the temp, still not entirly sure what to breed yet but theres no harm in doing research on everything before hand

terminator · 07-06-2011, 22:45

Those eggs may have survived if they did not become cold to touch due to short time.
Only problem though not having a stable heat can cause chicks to be deformed.38 is total max not realy recomended.Think there use to be a decent place near black stock rd that sold incubators.No idea if still there some time ago now never bought one just DIY jobs here.

Chez2 · 08-06-2011, 10:41

ohfunkit - what cockerels do you have to go with your girls?

Cerid - you can control the temp an all incubators but what I'm trying to explain is that the thermostst and insulation is better the more expensive the incy. If its small and poorly insulated your room has to be more stable for the incy to keep temperature. Mine managed at sub zero temperatures in my garage. There is another incy that is specifically marketed to incubate insub zero surroundings.

I always incubate at 37.5-38 degrees. I am a bit obsessed about temperatures and have two electronic and two glass thermometers in there. Special hatching thermometers cover a few degrees over a large space onthe thermometer for accuracy. I also monitor humidity. Since I have been doing this I've had almost 100% fertility and hatch and I haven't had to cull any chicks from my own eggs (except males).

OhFunkIt · 02-07-2011, 22:23

Introducing our new arrivals!

One egg hatched, the Maran hybrid at the front, so had to find a little pal; she’s a day older and is a Cream Legbar. I decided on the Legbar as they are an autosexing breed.

Chez2, I don’t have any cockerels running with my girls; I buy in supposedly fertile eggs to hatch. Hope you get some Marans sorted.

Ting~Tong · 02-07-2011, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhFunkIt

Introducing our new arrivals!

One egg hatched, the Maran hybrid at the front, so had to find a little pal; she’s a day older and is a Cream Legbar. I decided on the Legbar as they are an autosexing breed.

Chez2, I don’t have any cockerels running with my girls; I buy in supposedly fertile eggs to hatch. Hope you get some Marans sorted.

Fantastic ohfunkit so glad they made it

Chez2 · 03-07-2011, 13:13

Well done! Its a shame the bulb went and you didn't get more to hatch. They are usually more sensitve at the early stages of incubation. I had a power cut for several hours at later stages and had a good result.

Not all my eggs were fertile as it was getting to the end of the season for Croads, they are more winter layers. I put them in as a fertility test as I had been asked to sell some eggs but as it was getting to the end of their season I wanted to check fertility rate first. I have four black and three white chicks hatched. I did have two more but they had splayed legs (not caused by a slippy incy floor) so I culled them. They have to be top class birds if I'm going to sell or breed them. I have a potential buyer for a white pullet and a few blacks so fingers crossed.

I have a cream legbar trio so I will be breeding those next year. I am looking into maran egg availability for next year. I know someone else who is looking for marans too.