Helpful Hints to Manage a Table Top Incubator

The operation of a table top incubator seems pretty simple, however, for best results you will need to fine tune your management techniques. To help you accomplish this, we have put together some Helpful Hints!

There are 2 basic types of incubators, Forced Air and Still Air.

A Forced Air incubator has a fan inside the machine to move the air. This allows the eggs to be surrounded with a more even temperature and moisture.

An incubator that is Still Air will have areas in the machine that are hotter than others due to the fact that there is no air movement and the heat source is more radiant.

1. Temperature: Place the thermometer at egg level, in a Still Air incubator, the temperature should be between 103 - 105 degrees. In a Forced Air incubator, the temperature should be 99.5 degrees.

2. Moisture: In the bottom of the incubator, there will be channels or pans to put water in. It is critical that the water is present through out the incubation period. The moisture is necessary to maintain plump healthy embryos and during hatching, to keep the shell membrane soft to aid the chick in hatching. As a rule of thumb, use about half the area available for water, then 3 days prior to hatching, fill all the water reservoirs. If you have a wet bulb thermometer, it should read 86 degrees. This is a reading for relative humidity. When ever you need to open the incubator, minimize the amount of time the machine is open as you loose your moisture balance.

3. Ventilation: Generally, most table top incubators will have holes in the side and in the top of the incubator. These are for ventilation during incubation. It is critical for fresh oxygen to enter the incubator and for carbon monoxide to be released. Normally open one hole on the side to intake fresh air and one hole on the top to exhaust. Read the manual for the incubator to get definite directions on the operation of the ventilation of the incubator.

4. Turning Eggs: Some incubators are equipped with an automatic turning device, be sure this mechanism is operating properly. If you need to hand turn the eggs, using a pencil, place an "X" on one side of the egg. When you turn the eggs, turn all the X's up, the next time, turn them all down. It is best to turn them every 2 hours to maximize the chick's strength for hatching. If you are hand turning, always turn the eggs an odd number of times each day, that way the egg will always lay on the opposite side overnight, thus minimizing embryos becoming stuck to the shell.

5. Location: Locate the incubator in the room where it will be free from drafts and also where it will not experience extreme temperature swings (excessive cold, or heat). Also do not set the incubator in direct sunlight, the afternoon sun will greatly increase the inside temperature of the machine. You want uniform consistent temperatures in the machine throughout incubation.

6. Hatching Eggs: Be sure to obtain eggs from a reputable source. Eagle Nest Poultry will gladly supply your needs. If you get eggs from a local flock, be sure the birds are being feed a breeder ration. Start your incubator 48 hours prior to the arrival of the eggs, this gives you time to adjust the incubator to the correct temperature and also to get the humidity balanced in the machine. If you need to store the eggs prior to incubation, keep them in a cool room, at about 55-65 degrees. They can be held up to a week before setting although setting the eggs right away is the best choice. Always set the eggs small end down or lying on their side. This will properly position the embryo in the shell as it develops.

7 Incubation: Keep in mind the length of incubation varies with the strain of poultry:

Chickens 21 days

Ducks 28 days

Turkeys 28 days

Geese 30 days

To determine if the embryos are developing properly, candle the eggs at 10 days of incubation. This is done using an intense light in a dark room. A "Mag" light (Flash Light) works very well. Simply hold the light up to the blunt end of the egg, inside the egg, you should see blood veins encompassing the egg yolk. Eggs that show no evidence of the veining are infertile and can be disposed of. With a good light, you can see these veins and the heart on day 5 of incubation.