Re: Covatutto incubator - no egg hatched


"Ant" <ahay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1125354134.488181.4830@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Jill,
>
> Thanks for your comments.
>
> It's disappointing to think that the odds of success might be so low in
> a kit aimed at beginners. May I ask what incubator you would recommend?
>
> Also, how important is disinfecting hands and equipment? We only went
> as far as washing our hands.
>
> I'm still hoping someone in the UK has a Covatutto 16 and has had
> success. Anyone?
>
> Anthony and Julia
>

It is not so much that the odds for success are so low at a kit aimed at
beginners, it's just that incubation can be so difficult at table-top level.
The impression seems to be given that - set incubator temperature - put
water in - put eggs in - get chicks after 21 days, it doesn't work like that
unfortunately.

It depends on so many things. Where in the room the incubator is (never let
sunshine fall on it.) What the ambient humidity is and temperature, which
of course, in the UK, varies so much from day to day. Like Jill says, it's
a dark science.
I have used three incubators. A Brinsea Octagon 20 with automatic turn
cradle. My average hatch with this was 40-50% although once I only got one
chick.
A borrowed Polyhatch (automatic turn, 42 egg (ish) I had a spectacular
hatch with this, chicks were hatching every few minutes. The downside of
this incubator is that is has a rolling floor and even though I had switched
off the turning mechanism I didn't realise the floor would still roll
backwards and forwards when the chicks hatched and I lost two in the
mechanism. A piece of wood to size needs to be placed at the end of the
floor to stop it moving when you stop automatic turning a few days before
hatching. I have also hatched 90% ducklings and 1 out of 2 goose eggs in
it. I have had bad hatches too, in it though.
My 3rd incubator is a Curfew incubator, larger than both my others, but
still a tabletop one. I've had mixed results with this, and when I phoned
the chap who builds them he recommended that I keep the humidity down to 30%
in it, which was impossible. I bought a dehumidifier, ran it in the room
and got the incu humidity down to 30. I had a zero hatch.

The best incubator is a broody hen. It's too late really now to hatch
chicks, so is it possible you can find a local farmer or a ask at a poultry
club to lend you a broody next spring and then collect the eggs to put under
her? This is your best chance of success as a beginner.

HTH
Tina





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