Tips for using Brinsea OVA-easy Incubator?

[Ryu]

I am getting ready to put eggs in our new Brinsea OVA-easy Incubator.

We tried putting eggs in late last fall--no chicks. We did have a few mishaps. The Trays didn't come with the correct holders, and the ginormous Buckeye eggs broke free. Then my AM humidity tray checker wasn't checking, and it was going dry.

But now we have propper egg holders so no worries about that now, and I'm just going to monitor the humidity tray myself.

I've got it on. It is holding temp at 37.8C which is right on. We've got it in the basement, steady temp 70F, steady humidity 38%. My big question is about what humidity in the Brinsea itself. The instruction booklet says "fill humidity tray"--Not enough information!! We are at 990 ft above sea level.

I used a old school Hovabator previously (no fan, no turner), but have no experience with this fancy fan and self turning stuff.

Help!

 

[twigg]

Quote:
You have probably one of the most reliable incubators you can buy.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that ya still have to use it properly

You are under 1000ft, so no need to worry much about altitude. Add sufficient water to get the RH running between 45 and 50%. Once the temp is set right, it will stay right

Just make sure that the room doesn't vary too much, and sit back and wait for chicks.

Incubators are best trialed for a few days before setting eggs, but if ya have to set in a hurry, a Brinsea is a very good start.

Good Luck

 

[Ryu]

I think those two earlier 'difficulties' are now solved. I will double check my humidity monitor, but it stays pretty close to 48% in the chamber, so I will leave it there.

Fingers crossed, I'm going to let it run for a couple more days before any eggs go in.

I'm so nervous switching over. I was doing really well with the Hovabator, but the Brinsea will save a lot of time and we can get all the hatches done in about 1/4 the time this way, using the Hovabator for the last three days...These are my first Standard Cornish babies, and I am dying to see them.

There's going to be only 18 eggs in there for a week or so. I've heard they don't do well with only a few eggs in them--any truth to that?

 

[twigg]

Quote:
No truth at all.

The temp control in the Brinsea is impeccable.

The styrofoam incubators perform better when full, because their tiny heaters benefit from the heatsink effect.

I suspect this is where the legend comes from.

 

[Ryu]

Thank you very much!

Fingers crossed of Cornish babies in 3 weeks or so.