Not parrots, but incubator troubleshooting

[bug_n_flock]

I know some of y'all use poultry incubators fer yer parrots, or have poultry also, so maybe some of you clever people will have tips.

I decided to add more poultry eggs into my incubator while it's running rather than wait for all eggs to hatch then reload. I've done this in the past and never seemed to have issues other than marking eggs, managing turning and humidity etc. so basically no drama, but have to pay more attention ok fine no prob.

This year I got a new incubator (had been several years without a working one) it's something like a "home professional" series or whatever so supposedly a bit better than just backyard flock tier. I think it's little giant brand but not sure. Forced air, digital, all that. But I only got it at the "farm Petco" next county over so maybe that's just marketing. Tho I will say before sales and price matching n coupons and etc it was a nearly 200$ incubator without a built in turner. I got it for 90$ before tax tho so that's nice.

First batch of eggs I loaded went great. 6/19 chickens hatched(old hens, low hatch rate not incubators fault), 8/9 turkeys hatched, 4/5 ducks hatched.

Then I started having trouble with it overheating. Thought it was because of a heat wave, but it has overheated since then when not hot weather. Second batch of eggs out of 14 turkey eggs, 7 chickens, I got one turkey to hatch. Full stop. I did eggtopsy and the eggs that didn't hatch were clearly killed by the incubator malfunctioning

Third batch of eggs I put 7(I think) turkey eggs, more chicken, and 7 quail. All seemed to be going well, and then

Sunday I added in 22 quail eggs, and the temp spiked up over 120°. I noticed a few hrs later when I went to turn the eggs. Craaaap. So I lost nearly all the eggs that were partway. Still leaving any that I can't candle, or that I'm not 100% sure are kaput. Internet says the ones early in development are more resistant to that spike so hopefully not all the eggs in there got cooked.

Gonna put more quail eggs in again this upcoming Sunday, and today I put six more turkey eggs. Gonna be watching it like a hawk and make sure it don't temp spike again. Google suggests it might be due to overcompensating for the new, "cold" eggs added. I never had this issue with incubators in the past. Is it just user error? I can deal with user error, that's easiest to fix. I plan to buy a turner to put in but if this is an issue with the incubator maybe I'll instead buy a different incubator and keep this one as a EMERGENCY backup, or use it as a hatcher only to keep the messy business of hatching out of a future, more expensive, incubator

And for anyone who read my thread Abt cockatiel eggs, I didn't end up putting any in. The birds are half-heartedly sitting and I don't wanna take the eggs away. Hopefully they'll learn and then when back in their normal house with nest box, can sit new eggs with more success

Anyway, all this typed on my cell fone, so I sure hope it all makes sense. Any questions please ask.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Look around for a used GQF
I've had an "old analog" one I have used for years with great success. Cheap? no. Reliable? yes
If you buy a really old one like mine and want digital you can always upgrade it with late model parts. If the cabinet is ugly or maybe starting to rot from sitting it's easy to build a new one and just install the important hardware.

 

[Jcas]

I incubate quail and chicken eggs with a little plastic incubator I got off Amazon and it works just fine. My aunt hatches guineas almost every year using one of the foam incubators similar to the little giant one you’re describing. We’ve never had issues with a temp spike like that. Adding eggs would make it heat up a little, sure, but the thermostat should not let it get much above the programmed setting. I hate to say this after you spent money on it, but it sounds like a faulty thermostat in the incubator . You might be able to buy a replacement thermostat? Or it may not be worth it and you might just want to buy a new incubator . Adding a second thermometer into the unit to compare with the built in gauge can also help you see just how “ off” the real temperature in the unit is. Good luck! Failed hatched are always frustrating so I hope you can figure this out

 

[bug_n_flock]

I have a tiny plastic Amazon incubator too, think it was like 30 bux. I've never really had a success with that one. I got it last year it got three or four turkey eggs to lockdown, but they died in shell just before hatch, same for a few chickens I tried. Then it sat in storage over winter and this spring when I loaded it with about 10 quail eggs I realized the turner built in is busted now. And it's a pain to open n close, so that one's just an emergency backup/tiny hatcher now. Those ten quail eggs I moved to the foam incubator halfway thru and turned by hand, then temperature spike so between everything going wrong only one of those quail hatched. It was alone for almost a week, then I put the one turkey in with it. They're doing ok together, but soon the size difference will be too much n I'll need to separate and have two Singleton babies again.

So far today with the new eggs it hasn't spiked, but I've been watching close n opening it to turn and shuffle them frequently. More frequently than I would otherwise. So far so good, knock on wood.


But yeah, sounds like I'm still in need of an incubator and this one's just another fricking "band aid" incubator. Oh well. At least with the chicks it's already hatched it should be able to pay for itself, but still seems like a waste of money and definitely sad/frustrating to lose so many eggs! Especially after such a successful first hatch with it. Gives just enough hope to keep trying well, I was planning to pack it up for the season soon anyway. Other than quail I'm about done with my patience for all the extra work with brooders going, plus I don't want to hatch anything too close to winter. I have heritage turkeys so they take a long time to grow to adult size and I don't want anyone unprepared for cold weather

 

[bug_n_flock]

My guess for the plastic one why they died right at hatch, was not enough airflow. It was enough for them while growing but hatching takes a lot of energy n oxygen. That incubator has two teeny tiny openings, and one small opening that easily closes itself accidentally. And plastic don't allow airflow at all, and it closes tightly. But not sure, that's just my guess.

 

[TiredOldMan]

My opinion is when I purchased my GQF I paid 400 for it. Other than replacing a thermostat wafer and making a plexiglass door for it(my choice but not necessary) I have had zero issues in almost 40yrs. I consider it a great investment and it's worth more now than what I purchased it for.

 

[bug_n_flock]

I'll keep an eye out for a used one, looks like new they're around a grand. That's not in my budget this year, I'm redoing the roof of my cabin in addition to many smaller investments, and divorce is expensive even when friendly and peaceful

 

[TiredOldMan]

I occasionally see older model for 500 or less.
Completely understand the budget constraints and divorce is never easy

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I find that incubators work best when the room temperature is in the 70s. I have two small egg incubators and when the bathroom where I keep them while in use with eggs gets really hot during a shower the incubator gets too hot to. What is the temperature of the room where you're using it?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My small incubators are from Amazon. JANOEL-12 is the brand and model. I've hatched and brooded three baby budgies using it. The hatch rate isn't 100% but I don't think it would be with the parents either.
The egg turning mechanism works great and it doubles as a brooder.