Anyone use a Tractor Supply incubator?

[tracylhl]

We're getting ready to incubate for the first time. I went today and bought the only incubator that TS sells along w/ the auto turner. Wondering if anyone can review this one for me before I crack it open. Anyone?

 

[maralpz2006]

i just used today

 

[mechey]

Hi, I have 2 that I purchased from tractor supply. I really like them. It took a while to get the temperature adjusted, but other than that they have really worked out fine. In the first bator, which I term the incubator, I keep two or three different sets of egge and keep the humitity at 25% to 30% humidity, checking every seven days. On day 18 I move the first set from the incubator to the second foam bater which I named the hatchery. Humidity there is at first around 45% humidity until the first egg pips, then I raise humidity to 65%. When these are hatched usually within 3 or 4 days, then they are moved into the nursery where they are kept warm and watered and fed. Now the second bator, (hatchery is ready for the next set of eggs. At first I had a bit of a problem with humidity but things seem to be working out well now. I really like these foam bators. The second one ( hatchery) has no egg turner of couse. I lay papertowels on the wire to keep the hatchery clean for the next set. Oh yea, I have the temp set and now I never fiddly with the temp dial, I always just unplug it, when it is not in use.This has turned out to be a cool, loving hobby for me.

 

[TyrannosaurusChix]

i am on my first hatch with the lg bator and egg turner, i just bought in july. The eggs are so far having a great rate. one egg wasnt fertile and i had to take out a double yolker i shouldnt have put in in the first place.


My humigity i have found doesn tmatter that much. i found mine at one time at 29 and has high as 65 right after adding water.. but i have been keeping it between 40-55. like if im going away all day i will put a little squirt out of a syringe in it to keep it where it needs to be til i get back. the syringe also minimizes how much it gets opened.. i just pop the clear window out, give it a squirt and close it quick. i do have it planned to run a tube to one of the drilled vents to make it even easier and even less heat loss.

I have TWO hygrometers and THREE thermometers in there.. my temps range from 99.3 low to 102.4 high when im not running my a/c. Unfortunately i dont have a stable temp in my home right now but im doing perty darn good. My eggs are "due" 8/7 so im just a few days before lockdown. i will be reading what the best humidity will be for that.


I will add that i rigged my own internal fan in the LG... which is why the 102.4 is probably ok for me.

 

[Tala]

yes, and my first hatch was a good one! The less you mess with it, the better.

 

[WVchick71]

I made my own. It worked great on the first hatch! and I only had about $3.00 in it..lol

 

[flgardengirl]

I have a couple and have hatched most of my chickens in them. Not too bad for cheap bators..just make tiny adjustments on the temp knob. With mine you barely touch it and it goes up or down a degree lol.

 

[spydertoys]

Quote:
If you have a fan the temp should be 99.5..102 is for a still air incubator.

 

[digger455]

I got mine there too. And I just got eggs in there this morning. I have the turner in mine too. I will cross my fingers for you if you do the same for me. There were 20 put in there, Just got some in the mail. I even got some green ones. The other ones are brown, tan kind of a hunting green No white ones. The smaller brown ones are from the ones I have in the yard. Have to see what I get. By the way first time to do this for me.

Good Luck,
Digger

 

[toto65]

I have a Tractor Supply bator and turner too, my first hatch was in a HovaBator still air and I was turning by hand. I had 3 chicks out of 7 hatch and all 4 turkey's were fully developed but never hatched. for my second try, I got a turner at tractor Supply but put it in the HovaBator where eggs went until lockdown. This time I had 8 out of 12 hatch into lively healthy chicks. I have 5 turkey eggs in the turner until 8pm tonight when they go into lockdown. they too will go into the Tractor Supply bator. Hopefully this will improve my turkey hatch as well as it did for my chickens.

Here is a picture of my 2 year old grandson with his 2 day old chick from the latest hatch that he named "Bock Bock"