Roobaloo Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) Ok...so with my 'broody' deciding that she didn't want to play Mother hen, but likes the idea of hogging the nest box (broody when convenient it seems ) I'm been out and bought an incubator as I'd already been given the eggs and...well, had already got my heart set on the idea. I have my incubator, unpackaged it...and now I'm freaking out! The instructions are all in text, no images...so it refers to things I have no idea what I'm doing! (and this is supposed to be for beginners???) It does look simple but I'm so scared of messing up!! It's a Wolseley Covina 12... 1) It's all sat together...it mentions filling up a reservoir...does that mean the central ring in the base under the meshy bit that I assume the eggs sit on? 2) It mentions not to open it, most instructions I've read regarding incubators say similar about not disturbing the eggs etc....so how am I supposed to turn the eggs?? The instructions mention a metal turning rod...but I've no idea what that is!! 3) It goes on about what room to leave it in as the room temp will affect the incubator temperature....any recommendations which room? Should I get a room thermometer to keep track of both?? 4) Should I wash the incubator and/or eggs before use? The incubator is brand new. 5) How to I gauge humidity? Little overwhelmed now...I'm too used to buying things, switching them on and i'm away!! ...this is why I wanted Toph to do it!!!! Edited July 1, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 1) It's all sat together...it mentions filling up a reservoir...does that mean the central ring in the base under the meshy bit that I assume the eggs sit on? There will be a little cup in the base for water - could be the base if the eggs are raised on mesh 2) It mentions not to open it, most instructions I've read regarding incubators say similar about not disturbing the eggs etc....so how am I supposed to turn the eggs?? The instructions mention a metal turning rod...but I've no idea what that is!! Is there a rod that attaches to the mesh that the eggs are sitting on, that sticks out the incy? If you pull that the mesh should move and that turns the eggs. If not you'll have to open it to turn them. 3) It goes on about what room to leave it in as the room temp will affect the incubator temperature....any recommendations which room? Should I get a room thermometer to keep track of both?? Away from sunlight and draughts - maybe away from the kitchen. A spare room/office should be pretty constant temp 4) Should I wash the incubator and/or eggs before use? The incubator is brand new. I'd maybe wash the incy but not the eggs. 5) How to I gauge humidity? You'll need a hygrometer - can get them from reptile shops/online Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Thank you...!! The base has two rings, a small central one then one around that...then the remaining 'outer' ring has drainage holes (think of a big circle with a smaller circle in it then a smaller one in that!!) Should I fill the center section or the next ring....or both? Where do I put the hygrometer? would it be ok in the base in one of the sections that doesn't have water or would it need to be in with the eggs? It's only a lil plastic dome so i'm guessing I can't mount anything...!! Sorry for all the questions!! I did this so last minute as I assumed the instructions would be "idiot-proof" as it's aimed at beginners!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I'd think in the cup in the middle - haven't used that incy before tough Hygrometer would rest on top of the eggs or on the mesh tray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Thanks!! I think I've got it set up right....trying to get the temperature to adjust though. It doesn't have any figures on the in-built one...just a red line and two smaller ones above and below...to indicate the safe zone. The dial to adjust it has no measurements either so I've not idea how far to turn it so it's a slow process! One last question (for now... ) ...can it have too much water? will that effect the humidity? There's no measure so I've no idea whether it should be partially full or filled to the top...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I'd leave it empty (run it dry) until day 18 and top it up with water then I think on those thermometers the line if 100oF and its calibrated in 1oFs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 I've just read somewhere that you're not supposed to turn the eggs in the incubator until day 2...is this right?? I've already turned mine (started this morning) once...should I continue?? Also, if you stop turning 3 days before hatch...you don't turn at all on this day... If I set my eggs today...is today Day 0? Or is today Day 1?? (so would the 17th or the 18th be my last day of turning them??) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Today is day 0 If I'm using a manual turn still air incubator I dont turn the eggs for the first 24 hours If I am using one of the whizzy auto fan assisted ones I just let them get on with it I have good hatch rates in both types of incubator My advise is dont over-think it, if its easier to get in to the routine of turning them straight away then do it Stop turning on day 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 I'm doomed then! I either don't think or over think!! I've already filled my calendar with egg related "to do's"...I've written out a sheet with all the days, turning times and whether the 'x' should be up or not with a check list so I know whether it's done (even though I'm the only one doing it...!!) If I wasn't paranoid about jinxing it, I would already have a bag of chick crumb and a brooder set up!! So carry on as I am? ...but perhaps less neurotic!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 yup One thing I am not sure if you are aware of is that when you turn the eggs you have to turn them one way then back the same way - effectively you are rocking them..if you turn them over and over again the little stringy bits inside that hold the yolk steady will twist round and around - this is bad.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Oh, thanks for that Tasha! I had assumed I had to completely rotate them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 I didn't know!!! Thank you so much!!! I was just turning them at random!! I've never seen anything mentioned anywhere about this! ...but now I'm really worried as I've no idea which way I've turned any of them!! and I've turned them twice now...is this really bad?? If I start from now, will I have caused too much damage? How on earth do hens do all this?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 I didn't know!!! Thank you so much!!! I was just turning them at random!! I've never seen anything mentioned anywhere about this! ...but now I'm really worried as I've no idea which way I've turned any of them!! and I've turned them twice now...is this really bad?? If I start from now, will I have caused too much damage? How on earth do hens do all this?! You'll be fine, just start from the next turn I think hens move eggs from the centre of the nest to the outside and back in again so I guess they do this by default no idea but they do seem to manage just fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 I think my hair will have turned grey before the 21 days are up!! I'm exhausted already! No wonder Toph cured her own broodiness...can't say I blame her now!! Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 ...I have another question... sorry!! How warm should the eggs be to touch?? I'm just worried the incy thermometer isn't working. Yesterday the eggs felt nice and warm, just a freshly laid egg. Today they just feel slightly warm... The built in one doesn't have numbers, just a few marks that signify "Max, Min and Ideal"...it's fractionally below ideal (I didn't want to turn it up as the room temperature is also quite high!!) I need to get another thermometer tonight but I'm just a tad worried (which won't surprise anyone who has read this thread!!!) Where do I measure the temp? the in built one is quite high and someone has mentioned to me that you can't take the temp from "egg level". x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 The eggs never get very very warm if that makes any sense When you put new eggs in they take a good day to get up to temperature (thats why the first day is day 0) You can get a strip thermometer from a reptile equipment shop, its like a plastic strip, place this on top of the eggs, the temp needs to be around 37.5 at egg level I had one of those covatutto incubators and found the built in thermometer to be pretty good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 That's good then! For some reason I expected them to be fairly warm/hot to touch! Though I guess it's naturally done by body heat so can't really get excessively warm!! I don't suppose you can recommend any places I could get one from? The only reptile places I know of are the Japanese Koi company in Henlow, Bedfordshire (but couldn't find anything on their website) and the very limited range help by Pets At Home. (I'm in Beds...but am willing to travel to surrounding areas if I know I can definitely something) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I believe that Northampton Reptile Centre are good but thats some distance away How about ebay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 If it was earlier in the week, I would but so many sellers refuse to post on fridays so I probably wouldn't get it until Wednesday!! ...and I may be bald from worry by then! I'll check the Japanese Koi Company first but failing that I may have to pop over there...it's a good excuse to stop in at MK while I'm at it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 3, 2010 Author Share Posted July 3, 2010 Got my thermometer! I've sat it on the eggs...and the temperature is fluctuating between 98F and 102F as the lamp switches off and on...is this ok?? Also, the hygrometer is currently reading 50%, is this alright too? I'm getting so confused about humidity...some people are saying keep it lower than this until day 18 then increase it to around 70%, others say it should be around 55% (and increased on day 18) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
