Hello all.
I bought a Hovabator incubator this spring. I have my second batch in right now. The first batch I got about 50% hatch. I COULD NOT find any information in the instructions for the two little red "plugs" on the top. For this batch, I took one off a week before the hatch and will take the other off 3 days before. Is there anyone who could let me know for sure instead of guessing? It is a turbofan incubator with a egg turner (that I take out 3 days before hatch). I appriciate your help!
Karrie,
Jean, thank you! I had already taken out one of the plugs before posting my message. After reading your note, I immediatly put it back in. I had been told a couple of different things about taking them out/leaving them in. It didn't seem to matter for the few days I had taken out the plug the hatch came out about 50% again. Karrie
We found an 'antique' wooden chest incubator - about four feet high, 3 feet deep, electric motor with enough trays for over 800 eggs. It has a Montgomery Ward name plate. BUT - no instructions for use. Does anybody know how it works? I've got about 35 hens but none of them seem to get broody and I would love to hatch out some of these eggs. Thanks.
Most of these old incubators work just fine. Clean it and oil the motor. Plug it in and let it warm up, put a thermometer in it and fill the water pans with warm water, if no pans find some plastic or disposable aluminum roasting pans they usually go under the heater on a shelf. find the control switch and play with it until it reaches 99.5 See if it will hold the temp. for several days or a week before you use it.
I would like some opinions on what incubator to buy.
Whats the best for the money.
By Karrie on Monday, May 15, 2000 - 12:04 pm:
By Mjean60 on Tuesday, May 16, 2000 - 02:38 pm:
The red plugs are there to help you control the humidity. If the humidity is low, you need to plug a hole to hold in more of the moisture. Too high, unplug. I have a small (48 egg) incubator and a large (350 egg) incubator, and both of them have similar types of humidity control as what you have on yours. Hope that helps!
Jean Oppel
Stillwater, OK
By Karrie on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - 08:56 pm:
By Pamela Mason (Pmason) on Wednesday, February 21, 2001 - 03:41 pm:
By Freeman on Wednesday, March 7, 2001 - 12:40 pm:
Some of them had humidity controls also, some as simple as a vent on top that opens when the temp gets to high, you will have to figure out if this works. If it has wooden trays I suggest you put your eggs in paper egg cartons and you can turn 12 at a time instead of mass turning. If it has a turning system great. good luck