I am so happy to hear it helped with your hatch rate. It really did help with my hatch rate so I was hoping that sharing the tip would help others too so thank you for reaching out and letting me know it’s helping. I’ll be sure to make more videos with the helpful tips I come across. Take care.
They say the teacher will show up when the student is ready🙂 I have just set my incubator up for the first time, and am playing with the settings working to achieve correct outputs. I heat with a wood stove and have wondered how my temps would ever stay consistent with such a fluctuating temp in my house. You have just solved this issue for me. Thanks much!
+in the rabbit hole I love that. Way to get your farm on! I am happy to hear that it helped. Just keep in mind that with the heating pad you will need to add distilled water to the incubator more frequently to be sure all the water doesn’t evaporate. It can be a bit tricky getting the humidity just right but if you can it will really help with your hatch rate. Thanks for reaching out 😃
I used both the Nurture Right 360 and the heating pad last year to hatch my chicks and I was happy with my results. Thank you very much for sharing this with me! It really helped me be prepared when hatching.
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience. I am so happy to hear you were happy with your hatching results. Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great day 😃
I put my nurture right 360 inside of a styrofoam ice chest with the lid prop open. And the temp Doesn’t fluctuate. It stays at 99.5 degrees. The lid has to be prop about an inch to maintain the humidity at 40-45% or the humidity will rise to around 70%
The lid on the ice chest? Or the incubator lid? I assume the ice chest...but never know. I'm needing to do something different for my next hatch, as house temp fluctuates really bad. I like both ideas, the heat pad and your tip even more!, please advise
@@flowerpower9541 i was referring to the lid of the Styrofoam ice chest. i had the ice chest on it side with the ice chest lid prop open. it seems to maintain a steady temp. I had a 90% hatch rate on my last hatch.👍. cant win them all🙁
Original idea! Watched many vids and read many articles on incubating eggs. First time hearing this and appears to work wonders for you...🐣🐣🐣 Fantastic!!!!
I have a large cabinet incubator I built from an energy drink refrigerator. Its in the back garage the garage temp goes from 30 in the winter to nearly 100 in the summer. All I do is put a blanket around it. The better the insulation the less the internal temperature varies. My old GQF cabinet wont even get to temp if the room temperature is below 40 degrees. Wrap it in a blanket and in a hour its nice n warm. Just make sure the fresh air vents have an outside air source. You don’t need a heating pad. Its just something else to feed electricity.
That is so cool that you made an incubator out of an energy drink refrigerator! That is so innovative! Thank you for sharing your experience. I will give the blanket idea a try. That’s a great tip to keep the fresh air vents clear. Ventilation would be my concern with incubators being covered. Have a great day!
Victor 👀 I have been making a sloppy mess daily trying to pour distilled water into these tiny wells 😂 Thank you so much for this great tip! You just saved me lots of messes to clean. Thanks for reaching out. I really appreciate it.
We do 3 things that may make a difference we pick up eggs every day but we store them in a egg turner then the day of putting them in the incubator we spray them with hydro peroxide
Thank you for sharing those awesome tips 😄 That’s a great idea to store the eggs in an egg turner. I haven’t tried hydrogen peroxide but I have read about its effectiveness. Thanks for watching 😃
Another key factor is making sure there is always water in the incubator. I was wondering why the humidity in my incubators kept fluctuating - it was because the water had been all absorbed and the humidity inside was pulling from the eggs, thus leading to egg death a week before hatch. 😢
+Alta King I am so sorry for the loss of your chicks. That’s heartbreaking. Thank you so much for sharing. You sharing your experience will help save chicks. Humidity is difficult to keep steady and takes lots of monitoring to keep it from having large fluctuations. There are so many variables that affect the humidity as well. Don’t give up. Try hatching again.
May I ask how often everyone fills this incubator? I fill it like twice a day but sometimes seems to evaporate quicker. With the manna pro it can be hard to see the water level too which is my biggest problem with it.
I use a Styrofoam cooler, a soda cap (for water) and a 40W light bulb. I can hatch out 50 eggs, but I just do 40 at a time because of having to turn them. I get 100% hatch for every fertile egg.
Thank you for reaching out. Yes, when using a heating pad under this incubator, I have noticed it is harder to keep the humidity level stable at fifty percent for the first 18 days of incubation. I run a dehumidifier near my incubators to help to decrease the moisture in the air surrounding the incubators so I can then have more control over the humidity level inside the incubator based on how much water I add to it. When adding distilled water to my incubator, I start with a very small amount at first. It does not take much water to increase the humidity level in the incubator, especially if the humidity level outside the incubator is already high. When I add too much water I use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water and remove it. Thanks for watching.
You’re very welcome. Humidity fluctuations are normal but certainly can be worrisome. I, too, have experienced spikes in humidity followed by low humidity by morning. I don’t find that it effects my hatch rates, though. I have had spikes up to 82 % during lockdown when my chicks are hatching. When the humidity gets over 75 % during lockdown I take steps to correct it. If it gets over 65 % during day one through day 18, I will take steps to correct it. With my incubator I can squeeze a paper towel corner into the water pot to absorb some of the excess distilled water. I, also, will slightly lift the lid of the incubator to release some humidity. You want to do this cautiously because you don’t want to cause a drop in temperature or fast changes in humidity, especially during lockdown. We just do our best to strike a balance in humidity as best we can.
I used this brand incubator for the first time and had many of the chicks hatch out with extended intestines and unabsorbed yolk sacs. Needless to say I was really upset. I didn’t use the heating pad underneath. I’m going to next time and report back to you. 😊
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry for your loss. It’s always hard to lose chicks. I find the humidity levels and temperature can be tricky to maintain and can affect hatch rates. I continue to experiment to find the best ways to hatch with this incubator. For hunidity control the shoelace method works well. I made a video about using a shoelace in the incubator that feeds into a cup of distilled water can help pull moisture into the incubator as needed. I found my humidity levels were more stable that way. As for temperature, the heating pad works well for maintaining temperature. I have also used a seedling warming mat too. Keep trying. There are so many factors that affect hatch rates but trial and error will help you to find out the best hatching methods for your location. Happy hatching 🐣
Thank you for reaching out. I don’t have any experience with the Little Giant Styrofoam incubator, however, if I was going to try it with a different incubator I would experiment with it first before placing hatching eggs in it. I would set up the incubator with the heating pad set on low beneath it. I would monitor it’s temperature. You can lay a brooder thermometer on top of the heating pad to get an idea of the surface temperature as well as place the thermometer inside of the incubator. You want to make sure the heating pad is not getting too hot for the incubator. The incubator should be able to maintain it’s temperature without spikes in temperature before you add your hatching eggs in. Keep an eye on the humidity as well because using the heating pads I have found that I need to add water more frequently. Also, keep in mind that I am using the heating pad off label, running it constantly through the incubation process so I am monitoring it often to avoid any fire hazards. If you can get the temperatures and humidity right while using the heating pad it’s possible that it could help with your hatch rate. I would check your incubator instructions as well to see what temperature the room should be to try to mimic that temperature with the heating pad. Also, check to make sure you are not blocking any fans or vents underneath your incubator when using the heating pad. If you have any other questions, please reach out. Happy hatching 🐣
That’s BRILLIANT! And I think you are spot on! But I went the opposite direction. I am a grandma. And my great grandpa, was a chicken farmer. He passed away when I was seven. But, I so loved his farm. Anyway, I have been around chickens my whole life. My whole family, has chickens. I have never bought an incubator. I have always made my own, and use a thermostats, to regulate the heat. And I learned a long time ago, small incubators have hot spots…or cool spots…depending on how it is set. But, with a big incubator, and plenty of air movement, you get rid of those spots. Or rather, the core of the incubator is steady. While the corners might fluctuate. My favorite was an old refrigerator. It was insulated. And had shelves! And held humidity perfectly! Now, I have an old oak dresser. I gutted it. And it has no floor inside. So I laid mats inside. And placed a small metal shelf unit, that has three wire shelves to it. It can hold up to six dozen eggs. The middle of the incubator, stays a perfect temp. Even all the way across. But I do have three small fans in it, blowing in all directions. And I use one small space heater. I have 100% hatch rate as well. If the egg is fertile, and not damaged, I can hatch it. But, I don’t like how the humidity is in this WOOD incubator. I need a lot more water surface to keep the humidity up. I didn’t need to do that in the refrigerator. I guess the wood absorbs the moisture. Just wanted to share, for those who may want a larger incubator. But I think you are right in the money with your solution! And I bet that does away with uneven heat inside the incubator! Thank you for sharing this! If I ever decide to stop hatching so many larch batches, I now know what to do! Thank you
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your brilliance. I am genuinely impressed with your ingenuity to take a fridge and a oak dresser and create an incubator out of it. Six dozen hatching eggs at a time! That’s amazing. You are inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
Did you use a govee hygrometer/thermometer? And set the temp on the incubator to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit? Please let me know… also I have a plant heating pad is that ok? Also, i work from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, so I can’t really monitor the temp and humidity when im not home. I want to hatch out coturnix quail eggs and the temp to incubate is 99.5 Degrees Fahrenheit and the most is like 100 degrees I think. They hatch out in 18 days I think.
Thank you for reaching out. I use a brooder thermometer to check the incubator temperatures initially before adding eggs. My incubator has always been accurate with temperature, however, I do still check to make sure the temperature is reading correctly before adding each new batch of eggs. I do set my incubator to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit for chicken eggs. I have not hatched quail but I believe you are correct with 99.5 degree Fahrenheit temperatures and approximately 18 days to hatch out. A good incubator will regulate the temperature for you. Humidity can be a bit tricky as it fluctuates. Be sure to check on the incubator temperature and humidity levels before and after work. I typically check my incubators first thing in the morning, add distilled water as needed. I take care of the farm animals, get the milking done and then check to see where the humidity is at. Sometimes it needs a little more water and other times I need to briefly open the incubator to release some humidity. In the evening, I do the same. Add distilled water, take care of the farm and check the incubator humidity levels after. Happy hatching🐣
Thanks for reaching out. I had the same issue with my original heating pad. I found that Sunbeam makes a heating pad that doesn’t turn off automatically. I have four of them now and they all work great. Under the video, in the description, if you click “more” you can see a link to the heating pad I use. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching 😄
Thank you for reaching out. That’s a great question. Humidity level will depend on what incubation method I am using. With the standard incubation method, I add water in well A for the first 18 days of incubation with the goal of 50 % humidity. Typically, I have my vent window half way open. For the final few days of incubation, I lockdown the incubator and fill up well A and B to bring the humidity up to 70 percent and I open the vent window completely. I follow these same humidity guidelines for the shoelace incubation method as well. For dry hatching, I allow the incubation humidity to settle at whatever the room humidity is at the time. For my hatching room, that is typically around 30 percent. The humidity in the incubator will naturally rise as the chicks start hatching. I have found dry hatching to be the easiest incubation method and has good hatch rates. I have videos on all the different incubation methods as well as comparing the hatch rates of them if you want to check them out. Thanks for watching 😄
Every brooder comes packed in 2 pieces of styrofoom. Take the brooder and put it on the styrofoom leaving the top site away. As simple as that. Always put the brooder in a room with roomtemperature. In my room and kitchen it is always 21o C.
Thank you for the tip and for spreading the word about keeping the styrofoam packaging the incubator comes in. My original Anfan incubator came in styrofoam and I threw it away. When that incubator was not able to hold its temperature steady, I was wishing I hadn’t thrown out the styrofoam. I can see how the styrofoam would help retain the heat of the incubator to reduce temperature fluctuations. My favorite incubator, which is the Manna Pro Nurture right 360, however, did not come packaged with styrofoam, at least not the two I purchased. If I ever end up ordering a different incubator, though, I’ll be sure to keep the styrofoam. Happy hatching!
What a great idea! I’d be spending a lot of time under the blanket peeking, especially during hatching. I like to watch. Thank you for the blanket tip.
That’s definitely not good if it’s not putting off warm air. Is the fan working? You can put a regular thermometer in it while it’s running to see what temperature it gets up to. If it’s not able to warm up or the fans not working then maybe some wiring came lose during shipping. That’s really disappointing. I really love the three that I have. I hope you are able to return it and get a new one so you can have some good hatching experiences. Please don’t let this bad experience stop you from getting your farm on.
+Straw Boss Great idea! Thank you for sharing. Providing heat to warm the area around the incubator really seems to help with hatch rates. Happy hatching 🐣
Thanks for reaching out. Sunbeam makes two different size heating pads that do not shut off. I have a link to them in the description of this video. I have four of them and they all stay on and work great. I wish you all the best with your hatches 🐣Thanks for watching 😃
Most heating pads have a auto turn off now adays and kinda a fire hazard they usually say in instructions not to leave heating pad on for 30 min not 21days
+Cody Parker Hi Cody. Thank you for bringing that valid concern to my attention. You are absolutely right that there is certainly a risk when not using something as the directions dictate. The Sunbeam heating pad I use does state to not use it while sleeping or on animals. I have added a note in my video’s description where I have linked that product to let viewers know that I use it off label and that there is a fire risk. I appreciate you coming forward letting me know so I can make my viewers aware as well.
Why do they die at last day? I had most hatched, but 2 eggs had grown chicks but dead inside. I checked the eggs, but they did not chirp and died inside.
I am so sorry two of your chicks didn’t hatch. There are many reasons that could have happened, including but not limited to the chick not being positioned correctly or the chick could have been too weak. It is sad when that happens. It can be hard to know when to assist them with hatching because sometimes assisting does more harm than good. I wish you all the best with your next hatch 🐣 Thanks for watching.
I am currently on Day 13...do you think it would be wise to slip a heating pad under the incubator now, mid incubation? This is my first time hatching eggs and I bought this same incubator...I, too, thought what (??) when I read to be 'very careful' that the room was at least 72 degrees! We keep our home several degrees cooler. I have a towel wrapped loosely around the sides of the unit to cut down on drafts. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Hi Dawn. Thank you for reaching out. I’ve been giving your question a lot of thought. I have added a heating pad under my incubator a few days into incubation and my chicks hatched just fine. I don’t know if it would affect your chicks being further along. Ideally, you should avoid temperature fluctuations. If you decide you want to give it a try, then I would set the heating pad to low so it’s not a big jump in temperature. I would keep the heating pad on low for the remainder of the hatch so it’s not a big adjustment for the chicks. Great idea to use a towel to help keep drafts out. Please let me know how it goes. Take care and happy hatching.
@@justonemorestoryfarm thank you for your thoughtful reply. I have ordered the heating pad and it should be here tomorrow so I will consider what to do. I think that having it on low is definitely a good idea since I didn't start out with it underneath of the incubator from the beginning.
Humidity fluctuations are normal but certainly can be worrisome. I, too, have experienced spikes in humidity followed by low humidity by morning. I don’t find that it effects my hatch rates, though. I have had spikes up to 82 % during lockdown when my chicks are hatching. When the humidity gets over 75 % during lockdown I take steps to correct it. If it gets over 65 % during day one through day 18, I will take steps to correct it. With my incubator I can squeeze a paper towel corner into the water pot to absorb some of the excess distilled water. I, also, will slightly lift the lid of the incubator to release some humidity. You want to do this cautiously because you don’t want to cause a drop in temperature or fast changes in humidity, especially during lockdown. I also have a dehumidifier running in the same room as my incubator which helps. We just do our best to strike a balance in humidity as best we can.
+Arizona Thank you for reaching out. I use the Sunbeam standard size, which is the smaller, lower cost one, for under my incubator and I use the extra large size when I am making a heat cave for my chicks to keep warm under. Whichever you use, just keep in mind that we are using it off label by keeping it on for an extended period of time. I have never had an issue with the Sunbeam heating pads but it is better to play it safe and keep a close eye on it. I find it is best to keep them flat and with the enclosed cover on them. Happy hatching 🐣
Wonder if a reptile heating mat or a seedling warming mat would work? Those are designed to stay on all the time. My reptile mat gets up to 99 degrees. It does say to only use it under a glass aquarium, but I also used one inside a plastic storage tote, even resting on the egg carton flats to warm up some dubia roaches and there were no issues. Our bodies are 98 degrees or so, so the 95-98 degree mat only felt a bit warm. So I'm guessing they have to put those warnings on it for legal purposes.
+Critters in Cassatt Thank you so much for reaching out and for sharing. What a great idea to use reptile heating mats or seedling warming mats. That seems like it would be a great solution to providing heat using something that is labeled for long-term use.
+Dylan Morvant Thank you for reaching out. I have not tried hydrogen peroxide but the research that has been done it has shown favorable results with great hatch rates. I will give it a try in a future hatch and let you know the results. It will likely be in late spring when the weather warms up before I start hatching chicks again. Happy hatching 🐣
May God bless you all ❤ God will always be by our side to help us with anything , always have Faith and Pray , Love and Forgive your enemies as God will Forgive you too ❤
Thank you for reaching out. Yes, I do experience issues with humidity when using the heating pad. I have noticed that I need to add distilled water in small amounts, more frequently with the heating pad under the incubator. The Nurture right incubator has a ventilation window I can open further as needed to dissipate some of the humidity when it gets too high. If I add too much distilled water and the humidity spikes, I will use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water out of the water chamber. I also have a dehumidifier nearby that I run as needed. I try to keep the humidity around 50 percent for the first 18 days of incubating. Happy hatching 🐣
Thank you so much. It depends on your flock. I have two mature roosters with twelve hens and they do well together and have a high fertility rate. One rooster can successfully mate eight hens but to be sure you can crack open your eggs and check for fertilization. I made a video about checking to see if eggs are fertilized.
Humidity level can be tricky to get just right. I run a dehumidifier near my incubators to help to decrease the moisture in the air surrounding the incubators so I can then have more control over the humidity level inside the incubator based on how much water I add to it. When adding distilled water to your incubator start with a very small amount at first. It does not take much water to increase the humidity level in the incubator especially if the humidity level outside the incubator is already high. If you add too much water you can use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water and remove it. Let me know if these tips do the trick. If not we can brainstorm more ideas. Happy hatching!
I also live in Texas. I found out that dry hatch works a lot better. I used to hatch 4 out of 10. Now is 6 out of 10. Hopefully soon I can reach a better hatch rate.
+Jennifer Seelenbrandt Thanks for reaching out. I had to search for a heating pad that has a switch that allows it to stay on indefinitely. A lot of heating pads automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. I found a Sunbeam heating pad that works great and stays on. You can see the kind I use in my video “Secret to 100 hatch rate.” The link to the heating pad is in the description box below the video.
+Francois van der Westhuysen Thanks for watching and reaching out. I set my heating pad, which is made by Sunbeam, on medium under one incubator. When I set up two incubators next to one another, I place them each on their own heating pad set on low. My house temperature is set at 66 degrees Fahrenheit so you may have to adjust your heating pad settings if your house is warmer or cooler than mine. Happy hatching!
How long do you leave them in the incubator after hatch? I just hatched my first ducks. One in the morning and one in the evening. I have the same incubator as you. When can I take them out. My humidity is only at about 65%. I can’t same to get it higher. The water tubes are full and I have the little gray slide open as it says to do for air. With low humidity should I take them out. I can’t seem to find a good answer to this. Hope you can help.
Thank you for reaching out. I usually wait until my chicks are fully dry before moving them to the brooder, however, I always try to avoid moving them out when chicks are in the process of hatching. Usually, I move chicks to the brooder about 24 hours after they hatch. It is great when they all hatch in the same day but typically there are some chicks that take longer to hatch. As for the humidity, I try to keep the humidity around 70 percent during the last three days of incubation, but 65 to 75% is good too. At 65 % your ducks and hatching eggs should do well. The increased humidity aids with hatching. When the ducks move out of the incubator to the brooder, they will most likely experience a decrease in humidity, as most homes have an average lower humidity than a heated incubator filled with water. I hope the rest of your hatching went well and that your ducks are doing great. I am so happy to hear you are getting your farm on!
Yes, you can. Here is the video link of my successful dry hatch using a heating pad under my incubator. Happy hatching 🐣 m.ua-cam.com/video/NpwjU1IZtYc/v-deo.html
I'm not sure why the heating pad would work since the inside of the incubator is a constant 99.5 degrees, therefore the eggs should be as well. With the pad under the machine what does this actually do? Thank you.
+Jim Marx Thank you for reaching out. I keep my house temperature on the cooler side, usually around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. My incubator instructions recommends placing the incubator in a room that is consistently warm, around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The heating pad helps to keep the incubator area at a consistent warm temperature which in turn helps the incubator to keep its temperature from fluctuating. Fluctuating temperatures can affect your hatch rate. I hope that explanation helps.
Seven out of 11 is great! I try not to intervene but sometimes it’s necessary if they have been trying to hatch for over 24 hours with no progress. If they seem like they are in distress I will help them out. I am happy to hear you are getting your farm on!
Thanks for reaching out. I have not tried using a cardboard box as an insulator to hold heat around the incubator. I have received feedback from viewers who have used blankets and styrofoam containers as insulators for their incubators. One viewer said he keeps his incubator in a small laundry room in order to be able to heat a small area and keep it warm. Another viewer said they placed a heat lamp under the incubator table to warm the table below it. Such innovative ideas all with the common goal of providing or retaining heat around the incubator. Just make sure that there is adequate ventilation for the incubator. If you decide to give it a try, let us know how it goes.
Thank you for reaching out. Initially, I add warm distilled water to pot A in the Manna Pro incubator until the water level is 2/3 full in pot A. After that, I check the humidity level four times daily and add warm distilled water as needed. The amount of water added definitely fluctuates as it depends on the humidity of the room your incubating in. I check my incubators first thing in the morning. Normally, the incubators humidity has dropped overnight. I will add a small amount of distilled water, about an ounce or two. I will then go out and feed my farm animals and milk my goat. After that, I check on the incubators humidity level. If the humidity is not high enough, I add a little bit more distilled water. If it is too high, I open the vent on the front of the Manna Pro incubator or I open up the incubator to allow some humidity to escape. I repeat this in the evening as well. Add water, do farm chores and then check the humidity level as it does take time to stabilize and get an accurate reading. Happy hatching 🐣
Thanks for reaching out. What a cool incubator! I haven’t tried that incubator. I have had viewers share different ways they have kept their heat stable with different incubators. I like the constant temperatures the heating pads provide, however, viewers have said they have used blankets to hold heat in while keeping the vents uncovered. Some viewers use the styrofoam insulation that some incubators come with in order to hold the heat in. Another viewer said they used a heat lamp under the incubator table. Placing the incubator in a small heated room may work too. I would recommend checking your incubator instructions to see what room temperature is recommended for that particular incubator and then choose an option you feel will work best for that incubator. If you use a heating pad, just make sure no vents on the incubator are blocked. I currently have my heating pad on low under my incubator. Happy hatching 🐣
+Hannaniah Pinto I try to keep my incubators humidity between 48 to 55 percent for the first 18 days, then for the last three days of hatching I increase it to 65 to 75 percent humidity to aid in hatching. I do use a dehumidifier near my incubator as needed. I’ve found that adding just a small amount of water and then waiting for the humidity level to adjust before adding more helps to give me a better idea of how much water I need to add. You may have to keep your water levels low and add water as it dissipates. I have certainly added too much water which spiked the humidity. I used a bunched up clean paper towel and absorbed some of the distilled water I had added which brought the humidity back to a normal level. Too high of humidity can cause the chicks to have trouble hatching and can cause a late hatch. Humidity levels are tricky. I have also propped the incubator cover open just slightly with a pencil holding it slightly open to release some humidity for a short period of time when the other methods are not working. Just don’t try that while the chicks are pipping and hatching. We wouldn’t want any chicks to get vacuum sealed. I hope these tips help. Happy hatching 🐣
I’m so confused. I’ve always had high hatch rates, bought the heat pad from your link. Eggs developed until about day 10 then all embryos died in shell 😢
I hope you see my other message but in case you don't, I am so sorry to hear that all your embryos died. That is heartbreaking. The heating pad honestly does help my hatch rates. I have experienced many low hatch rates and through lots of trial and error and trying different incubators, I finally found the combination that works best for my hatch rates. Finding the right height for the incubator, the right room, away from windows, dehumidifiers if necessary and the correct temperatures can all factor in. I would recommend checking the temperature of your incubator with a thermometer to make sure the incubator temperature readings are accurate. I've had an incubator that wasn't calibrated correctly and the embryos died. Also, check the temperature of your heating pad to make sure it is not overheating. I am using two heating pads currently under two separate incubators. One heating pad reads 88 degrees Fahrenheit and the other reads 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep my incubator room temperature around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If your incubator room is warmer than that, then the heating pad may bring in too much heat for your incubator. I have only used the heating pads with the manna pro nurture right 160 incubators so I am not sure how it works with other incubators. I would also check to see if your incubator is able to ventilate properly. One viewer mentioned checking under your incubator to make sure your incubator doesn't have ventilation holes on the bottom that the heating pad could block. I hope this helps.
@@justonemorestoryfarm I keep my hatch room at around 68 degrees. I lost 2 clutches due to the heat pad. 99.5 degrees on my nurture hills incubator, had the heat pump ad on medium. Tossed the pad. Have had a successful hatch without it. If it were me, I understand affiliate links are important but it just doesn’t work in every situation. My nurture hills has never needed any addition. Works great as is. I lost 135.00. My fault I shouldn’t have put show eggs in an experiment.
I know this is all gonna trial and error also but its very discouraging when things dont go right. I'm struggling to keep the humidity above 48 on my incubator.
Thank you for reaching out. Incubating can be tricky to get everything just right with all the factors involved. Before using a heating pad my hatches were not great. The temperature in my house was just too cold for the incubator I was using. Getting the humidity right is an on-going challenge. I find incubating in my basement helps keep the humidity up but sometimes it spikes to high and I need to run my dehumidifier. The Manna Pro incubator comes with two water ports. If my humidity was too low with filling the single port, I can add distilled water to the second port. Also, there is a vent that I can increase or decrease the opening to help adjust the humidity. Check you incubator to be sure its sealed correctly. When my incubator was sealing right, I had to use tape on the seals to keep the incubator’s humidity up. I have read that using wet, clean sponges or wet clean paper towels inside your incubator can increase your humidity. Using a heating pad under your incubator may help with humidity as well as long as you keep up with the distilled water. I usually have to add distilled water twice daily while using a heating pad. I have had viewers reach out saying they have had success with dry hatching where you don’t add water for the first 18 days. That is not something I have tried though. Another option would be to try additional insulation around your incubator to help hold in the humidity. Some viewers have shared they use styrofoam containers around their incubators. Just be sure there is enough ventilation. Don’t give up though. You will find the best set up for your location and incubator.
@@justonemorestoryfarm thank you for the tips. It turns out the lid wasnt closed well. I'm not sure if someone in my house got curious and opened it but I closed it right and put a blanket underneath the incubator and the humidity is now at 55%.
@@justonemorestoryfarm Hello again, hoping you can give me some advice. This morning I candled my eggs to see how if they were progressing and they all seem to be dark solid when I check if theres an embryo or anything in there. Does this mean they're not gonna hatch or is that normal and should I keep going? Someone I know told me the eggs got cooked but the temps and humidity have stayed at a steady level so I'm not sure whats going on.
+cara conlogue Thank you for reaching out. You’re right, most heating pads do shut off automatically. I had to search to find a heating pad that had a manual shut off. My mother in law happened to have one so I searched for the same one on Amazon. It’s a Sunbeam heating pad. I use the regular size for under my incubators now and I use the extra large size for my brooder heat caves. I put a link in the description of the video to the heating pad I use. All four of mine work great and have not shut off on me, thankfully. Just keep in mind that I am using the heating pad off label by keeping it running. The idea is to keep the area around the incubator warm to help with hatching. I do so with heating pads but you can use the heat source you are most comfortable with. Happy hatching!
Thank you for reaching out. You’re right, most heating pads do shut off automatically. I had to search to find a heating pad that had a manual shut off. My mother in law happened to have one so I searched for the same one on Amazon. It’s a Sunbeam heating pad. I use the regular size for under my incubators now and I use the extra large size for my brooder heat caves. I put a link in the description of the video to the heating pad I use. All four of mine work great and have not shut off on me, thankfully. Happy hatching!
Thank you for reaching out. That is a great question. My mother and I made chicken skirts to fit my hens in order to protect their backs from my two roosters. My two roosters are very gentle with the hens but they do have spurs and talons that can scratch the hens backs when they climb on top of their backs to mate. I have a video showing how the skirts work called “Chicken Fashion Show.” If you would like to see my chickens modeling their skirts down their snow runway to some good music, you should check it out. You’ll get a chuckle out of it. In that video, I also explain the benefits of chicken skirts. My hens always wear their skirts, except on laundry day, then they are naked as a jay bird.
+President Witty Soft Paws Absolutely. Most heating pads have an auto shut off. It took some searching but I found one made by Sunbeam that does not shut off unless you manually power it off. The four that I have work great and do not shut off. I use them both for keeping my incubator temperature stable as well as for making a heat cave for my chicks in the brooder.
Thanks for reaching out. I am so happy to hear you are getting your farm on! It depends on your incubator and what it requires. My incubator works better in a room thats 80 degrees. Using a heating pad helps warm the air around the incubator so that I don’t have to heat an entire room. If your incubator is doing good in a 50 degree garage, that’s awesome and you don’t need a heating pad. Happy hatching 🐣
Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry that your incubator is not working properly. That’s awful that you lost all those eggs in both hatches due to a faulty incubator. Have you looked into returning it for a replacement?
Thank you for reaching out. Your goal would be to get the temperature of the room your incubator is in to be 74 to 80 degrees. Is there another way you can achieve this, aside from a heating pad, in your house? Do you have a small room that you can heat up higher than the rest of the house? Do you have a small space heater or a wood burning stove? I haven't personally tried it but Greg Rutter mentioned in the comments below "I just put a blanket over the incubators. It does the same job." You could give one of those options a try. If you want to use a heating pad, to achieve the elevated temperature, you may be able to find one someone who is giving away one on craigslist locally or you can purchase one through amazon. Here is the link, amzn.to/3wGZRIG. This is an affiliate link meaning you don't pay anything extra but our farm gets a small commission off your purchase. If none of those options work for you, let me know and we can brainstorm more ideas. Happy hatching!
I have a dumb idea, but I use those heating pads that Rural King sells for brooding. They're 45W. I wonder if setting them under the inbubator would work better than the Sunbeam pad since they stay at the desired temperature.
That’s a smart idea! I don’t have any experience with Rural King brooder heating pads but based on reviews it looks like a good product that would do the trick of keeping your incubator temperature consistent. Thank you for sharing.
@@justonemorestoryfarm I also have a question why do my eggs keeps dying when i try to hatch them like I put 5 eggs into the inqubater. Then they developed then died. I put 10 more eggs in they developed alot and they died. Please help I use the same inqubater and I have the humidity to 50-55 always and they just keep dying
I’m so sorry to hear that. That’s devastating. We need to get to the bottom of what’s going on there. The first thing that I would check is to verify that your temperature and humidity are actually what your incubator is telling you they are. Your incubator should have came calibrated but it’s important to check every time. If the temperature and/or humidity are off that can cause the eggs to stop developing. I had this issue with a different brand of incubator. I invested in a thermometer/humidity reader and realized it was not holding the correct temperature and humidity consistently. If this is not the case, the other thing I would check would be the location of your incubator. If your incubator is on the floor, the hatching eggs will joy get enough oxygen. Also, avoid direct sunlight from windows. Bacteria can also kill developing chicks as well so sanitizing your eggs and incubator prior to incubating can help avoid this. For more details on these, check out my video on washing your hatching eggs, incubator set up as well as how to hatch eggs in an incubator. I hope this helps. Please let me know how your next hatch goes.
Humidity can be difficult to control. I have experienced spikes in humidity followed by low humidity by morning. I don’t find that it affects my hatch rates, though. I have had spikes up to 82 % during lockdown when my chicks are hatching. When the humidity gets over 75 % during the lockdown, I take steps to correct it. If it gets over 65 % during day one through day 18, I will take steps to correct it. With my incubator, I can squeeze a clean paper towel corner into the water pot to absorb some of the excess distilled water. I, also, will slightly lift the lid of the incubator to release some humidity. You want to do this cautiously because you don’t want to cause a drop in temperature or fast changes in humidity, especially during the lockdown period. I also have a dehumidifier running in the same room as my incubator which helps. We just try to strike a balance in humidity as best we can. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I am happy to help. Thanks for watching and reaching out.
I have a question, I have been using a heating pad just like this and the temp stayed at 95.5 steadily, but the humidity stays way higher like even in the 70% and when I turn off the heating pad the temp stays the same but the humidity drops to the high 57% ish. Is that normal to have the humidity high even with the water full?
Thank you for reaching out. I have noticed that I need to add distilled water in small amounts, more frequently with the heating pad under the incubator. The Nurture right incubator has a ventilation window I can open further as needed to dissipate some of the humidity when it gets too high. If I add too much distilled water and the humidity spikes, I will use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water out of the water chamber. I also have a dehumidifier nearby that I run as needed. I try to keep the humidity around 50 percent for the first 18 days of incubating. Happy hatching 🐣
@@justonemorestoryfarm Thank you so much for replying! We are totally new to this. What started out as a homeschool project watching the different stages of eggs as we excitedly wait for them to hatch, has now turned into me wanted to keep them. (I may or may not have had that as a plan from the start to encourage my husband to let me keep them 😂....which worked- so now we are trying to quickly figure out a dyi coop for our backyard superb!!!). When I first candled the eggs Every single one had signs of life!!! I told my friend and she was shocked. So far your heating pad idea is working!!!!! I have been filling the distilled water regularly and have kept that vent window completely open. We shall see! We are on day 7!
+Billy R Thanks for reaching out. The heating pads I use are made by Sunbeam. If you click the “more” button under this video you will see links for the two heating pads that I use. I don’t have any issues with them turning off even though I am using them off label running them non-stop for a long period of time.
@Just One More Story Farm thanks for the response!! I didn't watch the full video before I ask that and then you said it was in the link!! Awesome idea and thanks again
+Bug Martinez Thanks for reaching out. It certainly can be since I am using the heating pad off label. Precautions that I take is that I make sure the heating pad is flat under the incubator. I do not fold it. I make sure I use the heating pad cover that comes with it. I monitor the incubator and heating pad with a temperature gun often to make sure I am not seeing any temperature spikes. The room the incubator is in does have a smoke detector and I keep a fire extinguisher in my house. That being said, I use heating pads for not just my incubators but also for my chick brooders and for my cat beds in the winter. I have found the Sunbeam heating pads to be very reliable. However, you do not have to use heating pads to have a great hatch rate. Other viewers have reached out saying they use other methods to warm up the area around an incubator such as blankets over the incubator, heat lamps under the incubator table, styrofoam around the incubator to insulate it as well as placing the incubator in a small room to hold the heat in. The goal being to keep the air around the incubator warm to avoid drafts or drops in temperature.
+Kyle Murray Thanks for reaching out. My hens wear chicken saddles. They are sometimes called chicken skirts or chicken aprons. They wear these to protect their back and sides from the roosters talons and spurs. My hens were losing feathers and two got cuts on their sides from the rooster spurs when my roosters would mount them. I made some for the skirts, which is what you are seeing in this video. If you want a better look at the home made skirts, you can see the chickens model them in the video “Chicken fashion show.” I do prefer Hen Couture denim chicken skirts because they are more durable than my hand made skirts. You can see those skirts in my video “Why are my chickens wearing dresses?” There is an amazon affiliate link to those dresses in the drop down description box. I do find that they protect there backs and sides well. They allowed my hens back feathers to all grow back in nicely. While they were wearing the saddles, I allowed my roosters spurs to grow out, as well, since their backs were protected by denim. I have found that with longer spurs, my roosters balance better on the hens and are not doing damage to their feathers. I have been able to give the hens a break from wearing skirts now that the rooster spurs are long and curve upwards. If I start to see any feather damage or any injuries, the denim saddles will go back on. Let me know if you have any other questions. I am happy to help. Thanks for watching 😃
@@justonemorestoryfarm Thanks for the detailed reply I will check that out, I just feel bad for these two hens because it’s so cold here where we live and I feel like their bare skin is really uncomfortable
@@justonemorestoryfarm They are just as bad, now we have a few more with some wear starting on their back feathers and behind the comb.. the roosters are just rough I guess 🤷🏻♂️
I set my heating pad on medium under one incubator. When I set up two incubators next to one another I place them each on their own heating pad set on low. Happy hatching!
+Kindra Hanneman Thank you for reaching out. Yes, I am keeping the heating pads on 24/7, which is using them off label. I have found that the Sunbeam heating pads I use are really reliable about regulating their heat output. I have been using them for my incubators, for heat caves in my chick brooders as well as heated beds for my kittens. There is always a risk of it being a fire hazard as there also is with the heat lamps I use for my brooder. I make sure to monitor the heating pads and keep the heating pads flat with the cover they come with on them. You don’t have to use a heating pad, though, the main objective is to make sure the room you have your incubator in has a steady temperature of approximately 74 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You could find a heat source that you would be more comfortable with using to achieve those temperatures.
That's how chickens breed ? I thought they were just wrestling 🤔 I bought hatching eggs and was told to plant them in the warmest part of the garden 3 inches deep none of them hatched !
Thank you for reaching out. I can completely see why you thought they were wrestling, but yes, that’s how chickens mate. It happens very quickly. I’m sorry to hear your eggs didn’t hatch. I have heard of reptiles burying their hatching eggs but not chickens. Chicken hatching eggs need a steady temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit for 21 days. That would be very difficult to achieve buried in a garden. The only two ways I have had chicken eggs hatch is with an incubator and with one of my hens sitting on a clutch of eggs for 21 days. I hope you will try hatching eggs again and not be discouraged. It really is a beautiful process. I have a video with step by step details on how to incubate your eggs if you decide to give it a try. Take care.
Thank you for your comment. To get a 100 percent hatch rate, in my opinion, you need a 100 percent fertility rate to go along with it meaning that all your eggs that you place in the incubator are fertilized. I have been fortunate that my flock of two roosters with 8 hens and 4 pullets has a 100 percent fertility rate often. I really like your brooder set up. Very innovative. Have a great day.
Danger. Do you know how often heat pads fail. You can get 3rd degree burns from a heating pad. They don’t allow these in retirement homes for a reason. They need to be monitored at all times. Never to be left unattended. You’re going to set your house on fire if you’re not careful.
Thank you so much for reaching out. That is a valid point that it can be dangerous since I am using it off label. I have also tried a seedling heat mat with good success and I am looking into alternative heat sources that may be safer. Maybe a reptile heat mat that is designed to stay on. I do appreciate you bringing it to my attention. Have a nice day.
I tried this. Followed her instructions to the letter. Used her AFFILIATE link and ordered the heating pad. All the eggs were progressing nicely then on about day 10, they stopped growing. Every single embryo died.
Thank you for sharing. You point out that hens get off their nests and the temperatures fluctuate, which is true. When my broody hens sit on a whole clutch of eggs, I have had three chicks hatch at most. With my incubator, hatching rates are so much better. Adding in the heating pad honestly did increase my hatch rates. The eggs get short cooling breaks when I candle them, but the heating pad helps keep a consistently warm temperature which I believe helps with embryo development.
@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia I am so sorry to hear that all your embryos died. That is heartbreaking. The heating pad honestly does help my hatch rates. I have experienced many low hatch rates and through lots of trial and error and trying different incubators, I finally found the combination that works best for my hatch rates. Finding the right height for the incubator, the right room, away from windows, dehumidifiers if necessary and the correct temperatures can all factor in. I would recommend checking the temperature of your incubator with a thermometer to make sure the incubator temperature readings are accurate. I've had an incubator that wasn't calibrated correctly and the embryos died. Also, check the temperature of your heating pad to make sure it is not overheating. I am using two heating pads currently under two separate incubators. One heating pad reads 88 degrees Fahrenheit and the other reads 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep my incubator room temperature around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If your incubator room is warmer than that, then the heating pad may bring in too much heat for your incubator. I have only used the heating pads with the manna pro nurture right 160 incubators so I am not sure how it works with other incubators. I would also check to see if your incubator is able to ventilate properly. One viewer mentioned checking under your incubator to make sure your incubator doesn't have ventilation holes on the bottom that the heating pad could block. I hope this helps.
My only suggestion is to make SURE whatever incubator you are using does not have ventilation holes on the bottom, or the heating pad could block them off.
This is a wonderful idea. I have had problems with hatch rates. I tried this secret and it worked so well. Thank you
I am so happy to hear it helped with your hatch rate. It really did help with my hatch rate so I was hoping that sharing the tip would help others too so thank you for reaching out and letting me know it’s helping. I’ll be sure to make more videos with the helpful tips I come across. Take care.
They say the teacher will show up when the student is ready🙂 I have just set my incubator up for the first time, and am playing with the settings working to achieve correct outputs. I heat with a wood stove and have wondered how my temps would ever stay consistent with such a fluctuating temp in my house. You have just solved this issue for me. Thanks much!
+in the rabbit hole I love that. Way to get your farm on! I am happy to hear that it helped. Just keep in mind that with the heating pad you will need to add distilled water to the incubator more frequently to be sure all the water doesn’t evaporate. It can be a bit tricky getting the humidity just right but if you can it will really help with your hatch rate. Thanks for reaching out 😃
I used both the Nurture Right 360 and the heating pad last year to hatch my chicks and I was happy with my results. Thank you very much for sharing this with me! It really helped me be prepared when hatching.
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience. I am so happy to hear you were happy with your hatching results. Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great day 😃
I put my nurture right 360 inside of a styrofoam ice chest with the lid prop open. And the temp Doesn’t fluctuate. It stays at 99.5 degrees. The lid has to be prop about an inch to maintain the humidity at 40-45% or the humidity will rise to around 70%
+Victor M What a great idea! Thank you for sharing 😃
The lid on the ice chest? Or the incubator lid? I assume the ice chest...but never know. I'm needing to do something different for my next hatch, as house temp fluctuates really bad. I like both ideas, the heat pad and your tip even more!, please advise
@@flowerpower9541 i was referring to the lid of the Styrofoam ice chest. i had the ice chest on it side with the ice chest lid prop open. it seems to maintain a steady temp. I had a 90% hatch rate on my last hatch.👍. cant win them all🙁
Original idea! Watched many vids and read many articles on incubating eggs. First time hearing this and appears to work wonders for you...🐣🐣🐣 Fantastic!!!!
Thank you very much for your kind words :)
This is such an amazing tip!!! My incubators are in the coldest room in my home and this will really help my hatch rate
Thank you for your kind words. It really made a big difference with my hatch rates and I hope it helps with yours as well.
@@justonemorestoryfarm great video!!! Medium for the whole process? I just ordered pad thru your link. So smart!!!
Great idea. Loaded my incubator this morning. Nurture right fits perfectly on standard size heating pad. Thanks for the Amazon links
+Justin Janus Thank you so much for your kind words. You are so very welcome. Thank you for watching and for supporting us. Happy hatching 🐣
I have a large cabinet incubator I built from an energy drink refrigerator. Its in the back garage the garage temp goes from 30 in the winter to nearly 100 in the summer. All I do is put a blanket around it. The better the insulation the less the internal temperature varies. My old GQF cabinet wont even get to temp if the room temperature is below 40 degrees. Wrap it in a blanket and in a hour its nice n warm. Just make sure the fresh air vents have an outside air source.
You don’t need a heating pad. Its just something else to feed electricity.
That is so cool that you made an incubator out of an energy drink refrigerator! That is so innovative! Thank you for sharing your experience. I will give the blanket idea a try. That’s a great tip to keep the fresh air vents clear. Ventilation would be my concern with incubators being covered. Have a great day!
Tip: use a condiment squeeze bottle (the kind for mustard and katchup) filled with water to fill A/B. Clean and easy👍🏼
Victor 👀 I have been making a sloppy mess daily trying to pour distilled water into these tiny wells 😂 Thank you so much for this great tip! You just saved me lots of messes to clean. Thanks for reaching out. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for the information
You are so very welcome. Thank you for watching 😀
Brilliant and thanks for sharing!
+SaltLifeGull Thank you and you are so very welcome 😀
We do 3 things that may make a difference we pick up eggs every day but we store them in a egg turner then the day of putting them in the incubator we spray them with hydro peroxide
Thank you for sharing those awesome tips 😄 That’s a great idea to store the eggs in an egg turner. I haven’t tried hydrogen peroxide but I have read about its effectiveness. Thanks for watching 😃
Another key factor is making sure there is always water in the incubator. I was wondering why the humidity in my incubators kept fluctuating - it was because the water had been all absorbed and the humidity inside was pulling from the eggs, thus leading to egg death a week before hatch. 😢
+Alta King I am so sorry for the loss of your chicks. That’s heartbreaking. Thank you so much for sharing. You sharing your experience will help save chicks. Humidity is difficult to keep steady and takes lots of monitoring to keep it from having large fluctuations. There are so many variables that affect the humidity as well. Don’t give up. Try hatching again.
May I ask how often everyone fills this incubator? I fill it like twice a day but sometimes seems to evaporate quicker. With the manna pro it can be hard to see the water level too which is my biggest problem with it.
Having the same issue with the water evaporating real quick and could use some advice here as well
I use a Styrofoam cooler, a soda cap (for water) and a 40W light bulb. I can hatch out 50 eggs, but I just do 40 at a time because of having to turn them. I get 100% hatch for every fertile egg.
Thank you for sharing. That is incredible! Such ingenuity! I would love to try that. Happy hatching 🐣
Cool stuff. Might try it and see
Thank you very much. Happy hatching!
Wow amazing tip. Do you have any problems with this incubator with humidity levels?
Thank you for reaching out. Yes, when using a heating pad under this incubator, I have noticed it is harder to keep the humidity level stable at fifty percent for the first 18 days of incubation. I run a dehumidifier near my incubators to help to decrease the moisture in the air surrounding the incubators so I can then have more control over the humidity level inside the incubator based on how much water I add to it. When adding distilled water to my incubator, I start with a very small amount at first. It does not take much water to increase the humidity level in the incubator, especially if the humidity level outside the incubator is already high. When I add too much water I use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water and remove it. Thanks for watching.
@@justonemorestoryfarm Thank you so much for all your tips. Very much appreciated here and I'm sure for many others also. 🥰
Thank you
You are so very welcome 😃 Thanks for watching.
thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+Priscilla Watson You’re so very welcome 😃 Thanks for watching and for supporting our channel.
Thank you for this information.Sometimes my humidity level goes up super high and then in the morning it’s low again. What is too high?
You’re very welcome. Humidity fluctuations are normal but certainly can be worrisome. I, too, have experienced spikes in humidity followed by low humidity by morning. I don’t find that it effects my hatch rates, though. I have had spikes up to 82 % during lockdown when my chicks are hatching. When the humidity gets over 75 % during lockdown I take steps to correct it. If it gets over 65 % during day one through day 18, I will take steps to correct it. With my incubator I can squeeze a paper towel corner into the water pot to absorb some of the excess distilled water. I, also, will slightly lift the lid of the incubator to release some humidity. You want to do this cautiously because you don’t want to cause a drop in temperature or fast changes in humidity, especially during lockdown. We just do our best to strike a balance in humidity as best we can.
😊 thank you!
You’re very welcome :)
I’m going to try this!
+Trina Reeves Yay! It works really well. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy hatching! 🐣
Is the m16 incubator good I bought it from Amazon I haven’t tried it yet I’m just wondering
Thanks for reaching out 😄 I haven’t tried that incubator but I would love to know how it works out for you. Happy hatching 🐣
I used this brand incubator for the first time and had many of the chicks hatch out with extended intestines and unabsorbed yolk sacs. Needless to say I was really upset. I didn’t use the heating pad underneath. I’m going to next time and report back to you. 😊
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry for your loss. It’s always hard to lose chicks. I find the humidity levels and temperature can be tricky to maintain and can affect hatch rates. I continue to experiment to find the best ways to hatch with this incubator. For hunidity control the shoelace method works well. I made a video about using a shoelace in the incubator that feeds into a cup of distilled water can help pull moisture into the incubator as needed. I found my humidity levels were more stable that way. As for temperature, the heating pad works well for maintaining temperature. I have also used a seedling warming mat too. Keep trying. There are so many factors that affect hatch rates but trial and error will help you to find out the best hatching methods for your location. Happy hatching 🐣
Can you do this with little gaint styrofoam incubator with no digital thermometer
Thank you for reaching out. I don’t have any experience with the Little Giant Styrofoam incubator, however, if I was going to try it with a different incubator I would experiment with it first before placing hatching eggs in it. I would set up the incubator with the heating pad set on low beneath it. I would monitor it’s temperature. You can lay a brooder thermometer on top of the heating pad to get an idea of the surface temperature as well as place the thermometer inside of the incubator. You want to make sure the heating pad is not getting too hot for the incubator. The incubator should be able to maintain it’s temperature without spikes in temperature before you add your hatching eggs in. Keep an eye on the humidity as well because using the heating pads I have found that I need to add water more frequently. Also, keep in mind that I am using the heating pad off label, running it constantly through the incubation process so I am monitoring it often to avoid any fire hazards. If you can get the temperatures and humidity right while using the heating pad it’s possible that it could help with your hatch rate. I would check your incubator instructions as well to see what temperature the room should be to try to mimic that temperature with the heating pad. Also, check to make sure you are not blocking any fans or vents underneath your incubator when using the heating pad. If you have any other questions, please reach out. Happy hatching 🐣
That’s BRILLIANT! And I think you are spot on! But I went the opposite direction. I am a grandma. And my great grandpa, was a chicken farmer. He passed away when I was seven. But, I so loved his farm. Anyway, I have been around chickens my whole life. My whole family, has chickens. I have never bought an incubator. I have always made my own, and use a thermostats, to regulate the heat. And I learned a long time ago, small incubators have hot spots…or cool spots…depending on how it is set. But, with a big incubator, and plenty of air movement, you get rid of those spots. Or rather, the core of the incubator is steady. While the corners might fluctuate. My favorite was an old refrigerator. It was insulated. And had shelves! And held humidity perfectly! Now, I have an old oak dresser. I gutted it. And it has no floor inside. So I laid mats inside. And placed a small metal shelf unit, that has three wire shelves to it. It can hold up to six dozen eggs. The middle of the incubator, stays a perfect temp. Even all the way across. But I do have three small fans in it, blowing in all directions. And I use one small space heater. I have 100% hatch rate as well. If the egg is fertile, and not damaged, I can hatch it. But, I don’t like how the humidity is in this WOOD incubator. I need a lot more water surface to keep the humidity up. I didn’t need to do that in the refrigerator. I guess the wood absorbs the moisture. Just wanted to share, for those who may want a larger incubator. But I think you are right in the money with your solution! And I bet that does away with uneven heat inside the incubator! Thank you for sharing this! If I ever decide to stop hatching so many larch batches, I now know what to do! Thank you
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your brilliance. I am genuinely impressed with your ingenuity to take a fridge and a oak dresser and create an incubator out of it. Six dozen hatching eggs at a time! That’s amazing. You are inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
@@justonemorestoryfarm Awe. Thank you. Anything the mind can convince and believe the body can achieve!
I believe it!
Did you use a govee hygrometer/thermometer? And set the temp on the incubator to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit? Please let me know… also I have a plant heating pad is that ok? Also, i work from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, so I can’t really monitor the temp and humidity when im not home. I want to hatch out coturnix quail eggs and the temp to incubate is 99.5 Degrees Fahrenheit and the most is like 100 degrees I think. They hatch out in 18 days I think.
Thank you for reaching out. I use a brooder thermometer to check the incubator temperatures initially before adding eggs. My incubator has always been accurate with temperature, however, I do still check to make sure the temperature is reading correctly before adding each new batch of eggs. I do set my incubator to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit for chicken eggs. I have not hatched quail but I believe you are correct with 99.5 degree Fahrenheit temperatures and approximately 18 days to hatch out. A good incubator will regulate the temperature for you. Humidity can be a bit tricky as it fluctuates. Be sure to check on the incubator temperature and humidity levels before and after work. I typically check my incubators first thing in the morning, add distilled water as needed. I take care of the farm animals, get the milking done and then check to see where the humidity is at. Sometimes it needs a little more water and other times I need to briefly open the incubator to release some humidity. In the evening, I do the same. Add distilled water, take care of the farm and check the incubator humidity levels after. Happy hatching🐣
The heating pads I've used automatically shut off. Don't you have this issue? How do you work around that?
Thanks for reaching out. I had the same issue with my original heating pad. I found that Sunbeam makes a heating pad that doesn’t turn off automatically. I have four of them now and they all work great. Under the video, in the description, if you click “more” you can see a link to the heating pad I use. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching 😄
At what percentage do you keep humidity level?
Thank you for reaching out. That’s a great question. Humidity level will depend on what incubation method I am using. With the standard incubation method, I add water in well A for the first 18 days of incubation with the goal of 50 % humidity. Typically, I have my vent window half way open. For the final few days of incubation, I lockdown the incubator and fill up well A and B to bring the humidity up to 70 percent and I open the vent window completely. I follow these same humidity guidelines for the shoelace incubation method as well. For dry hatching, I allow the incubation humidity to settle at whatever the room humidity is at the time. For my hatching room, that is typically around 30 percent. The humidity in the incubator will naturally rise as the chicks start hatching. I have found dry hatching to be the easiest incubation method and has good hatch rates. I have videos on all the different incubation methods as well as comparing the hatch rates of them if you want to check them out. Thanks for watching 😄
Every brooder comes packed in 2 pieces of styrofoom. Take the brooder and put it on the styrofoom leaving the top site away. As simple as that. Always put the brooder in a room with roomtemperature. In my room and kitchen it is always 21o C.
Thank you for the tip and for spreading the word about keeping the styrofoam packaging the incubator comes in.
My original Anfan incubator came in styrofoam and I threw it away. When that incubator was not able to hold its temperature steady, I was wishing I hadn’t thrown out the styrofoam. I can see how the styrofoam would help retain the heat of the incubator to reduce temperature fluctuations.
My favorite incubator, which is the Manna Pro Nurture right 360, however, did not come packaged with styrofoam, at least not the two I purchased.
If I ever end up ordering a different incubator, though, I’ll be sure to keep the styrofoam. Happy hatching!
@@justonemorestoryfarm YW.
Our house stays at 74 and I have a 100 wat bulb next to incubator also to keep area warm also
It's a great idea thank you
You’re very welcome. I am happy to help.
I just put a blanket over the incubators. It does the same job.
What a great idea! I’d be spending a lot of time under the blanket peeking, especially during hatching. I like to watch. Thank you for the blanket tip.
Oh, and when I opened it, you know you should feel warm air coming out of it and I didn’t
That’s definitely not good if it’s not putting off warm air. Is the fan working? You can put a regular thermometer in it while it’s running to see what temperature it gets up to. If it’s not able to warm up or the fans not working then maybe some wiring came lose during shipping. That’s really disappointing. I really love the three that I have. I hope you are able to return it and get a new one so you can have some good hatching experiences. Please don’t let this bad experience stop you from getting your farm on.
I put a heat lamp under the table and it heats up top of the table and keeps the whole incubator warm and temp doesn't fluctuate
+Straw Boss Great idea! Thank you for sharing. Providing heat to warm the area around the incubator really seems to help with hatch rates. Happy hatching 🐣
I haven't found a heating pad that doesn't have auto shut-off.
Thanks for reaching out. Sunbeam makes two different size heating pads that do not shut off. I have a link to them in the description of this video. I have four of them and they all stay on and work great. I wish you all the best with your hatches 🐣Thanks for watching 😃
Most heating pads have a auto turn off now adays and kinda a fire hazard they usually say in instructions not to leave heating pad on for 30 min not 21days
+Cody Parker Hi Cody. Thank you for bringing that valid concern to my attention. You are absolutely right that there is certainly a risk when not using something as the directions dictate. The Sunbeam heating pad I use does state to not use it while sleeping or on animals. I have added a note in my video’s description where I have linked that product to let viewers know that I use it off label and that there is a fire risk. I appreciate you coming forward letting me know so I can make my viewers aware as well.
Why do they die at last day? I had most hatched, but 2 eggs had grown chicks but dead inside. I checked the eggs, but they did not chirp and died inside.
I am so sorry two of your chicks didn’t hatch. There are many reasons that could have happened, including but not limited to the chick not being positioned correctly or the chick could have been too weak. It is sad when that happens. It can be hard to know when to assist them with hatching because sometimes assisting does more harm than good. I wish you all the best with your next hatch 🐣 Thanks for watching.
I am currently on Day 13...do you think it would be wise to slip a heating pad under the incubator now, mid incubation? This is my first time hatching eggs and I bought this same incubator...I, too, thought what (??) when I read to be 'very careful' that the room was at least 72 degrees! We keep our home several degrees cooler. I have a towel wrapped loosely around the sides of the unit to cut down on drafts. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Hi Dawn. Thank you for reaching out. I’ve been giving your question a lot of thought. I have added a heating pad under my incubator a few days into incubation and my chicks hatched just fine. I don’t know if it would affect your chicks being further along. Ideally, you should avoid temperature fluctuations. If you decide you want to give it a try, then I would set the heating pad to low so it’s not a big jump in temperature. I would keep the heating pad on low for the remainder of the hatch so it’s not a big adjustment for the chicks. Great idea to use a towel to help keep drafts out. Please let me know how it goes. Take care and happy hatching.
@@justonemorestoryfarm thank you for your thoughtful reply. I have ordered the heating pad and it should be here tomorrow so I will consider what to do. I think that having it on low is definitely a good idea since I didn't start out with it underneath of the incubator from the beginning.
I wish you the best of luck with your hatch. I will be thinking of you.
I used your system. Desastres! How do you controle the humidity??
Humidity fluctuations are normal but certainly can be worrisome. I, too, have experienced spikes in humidity followed by low humidity by morning. I don’t find that it effects my hatch rates, though. I have had spikes up to 82 % during lockdown when my chicks are hatching. When the humidity gets over 75 % during lockdown I take steps to correct it. If it gets over 65 % during day one through day 18, I will take steps to correct it. With my incubator I can squeeze a paper towel corner into the water pot to absorb some of the excess distilled water. I, also, will slightly lift the lid of the incubator to release some humidity. You want to do this cautiously because you don’t want to cause a drop in temperature or fast changes in humidity, especially during lockdown. I also have a dehumidifier running in the same room as my incubator which helps. We just do our best to strike a balance in humidity as best we can.
Curious hannaniah, how many hatched?
Do we need the large one or will the lower priced smaller heating pad work?
+Arizona Thank you for reaching out. I use the Sunbeam standard size, which is the smaller, lower cost one, for under my incubator and I use the extra large size when I am making a heat cave for my chicks to keep warm under. Whichever you use, just keep in mind that we are using it off label by keeping it on for an extended period of time. I have never had an issue with the Sunbeam heating pads but it is better to play it safe and keep a close eye on it. I find it is best to keep them flat and with the enclosed cover on them. Happy hatching 🐣
Wonder if a reptile heating mat or a seedling warming mat would work? Those are designed to stay on all the time. My reptile mat gets up to 99 degrees. It does say to only use it under a glass aquarium, but I also used one inside a plastic storage tote, even resting on the egg carton flats to warm up some dubia roaches and there were no issues. Our bodies are 98 degrees or so, so the 95-98 degree mat only felt a bit warm. So I'm guessing they have to put those warnings on it for legal purposes.
+Critters in Cassatt Thank you so much for reaching out and for sharing. What a great idea to use reptile heating mats or seedling warming mats. That seems like it would be a great solution to providing heat using something that is labeled for long-term use.
995 good or 100 in January outside temp 56
Have you tried peroxide? See some videos saying that helps too.
+Dylan Morvant Thank you for reaching out. I have not tried hydrogen peroxide but the research that has been done it has shown favorable results with great hatch rates. I will give it a try in a future hatch and let you know the results. It will likely be in late spring when the weather warms up before I start hatching chicks again. Happy hatching 🐣
I wrap mine with a towel around it.
That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing 😃 I’m sure that is a big help to your incubators heating element to help insulate your incubator.
May God bless you all ❤ God will always be by our side to help us with anything , always have Faith and Pray , Love and Forgive your enemies as God will Forgive you too ❤
+fxrnii Thank you so much.
Have you had trouble with holding humidity in the 360 ?? It’s staying to high -
Thank you for reaching out. Yes, I do experience issues with humidity when using the heating pad. I have noticed that I need to add distilled water in small amounts, more frequently with the heating pad under the incubator. The Nurture right incubator has a ventilation window I can open further as needed to dissipate some of the humidity when it gets too high. If I add too much distilled water and the humidity spikes, I will use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water out of the water chamber. I also have a dehumidifier nearby that I run as needed. I try to keep the humidity around 50 percent for the first 18 days of incubating. Happy hatching 🐣
Great video! How many roosters are needed to successfully mate 8 hens? We have only 1 rooster and we've got 8 girls.
Thank you so much. It depends on your flock. I have two mature roosters with twelve hens and they do well together and have a high fertility rate. One rooster can successfully mate eight hens but to be sure you can crack open your eggs and check for fertilization. I made a video about checking to see if eggs are fertilized.
So I live in Texas and I tried to do this. But the humidity level where 65%+ what should I do?
Humidity level can be tricky to get just right. I run a dehumidifier near my incubators to help to decrease the moisture in the air surrounding the incubators so I can then have more control over the humidity level inside the incubator based on how much water I add to it. When adding distilled water to your incubator start with a very small amount at first. It does not take much water to increase the humidity level in the incubator especially if the humidity level outside the incubator is already high. If you add too much water you can use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water and remove it. Let me know if these tips do the trick. If not we can brainstorm more ideas. Happy hatching!
I also live in Texas. I found out that dry hatch works a lot better. I used to hatch 4 out of 10. Now is 6 out of 10. Hopefully soon I can reach a better hatch rate.
how to get the heating pad to stay on all the time. Usually, they turn off after a few hours
+Jennifer Seelenbrandt Thanks for reaching out. I had to search for a heating pad that has a switch that allows it to stay on indefinitely. A lot of heating pads automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. I found a Sunbeam heating pad that works great and stays on. You can see the kind I use in my video “Secret to 100 hatch rate.” The link to the heating pad is in the description box below the video.
A question please. The heating pad has 3 heat settings. Which one do you use as “standard” setting? Low, medium or highest(or warmest setting?
+Francois van der Westhuysen Thanks for watching and reaching out. I set my heating pad, which is made by Sunbeam, on medium under one incubator. When I set up two incubators next to one another, I place them each on their own heating pad set on low. My house temperature is set at 66 degrees Fahrenheit so you may have to adjust your heating pad settings if your house is warmer or cooler than mine. Happy hatching!
How long do you leave them in the incubator after hatch? I just hatched my first ducks. One in the morning and one in the evening. I have the same incubator as you. When can I take them out. My humidity is only at about 65%. I can’t same to get it higher. The water tubes are full and I have the little gray slide open as it says to do for air. With low humidity should I take them out. I can’t seem to find a good answer to this. Hope you can help.
Thank you for reaching out. I usually wait until my chicks are fully dry before moving them to the brooder, however, I always try to avoid moving them out when chicks are in the process of hatching. Usually, I move chicks to the brooder about 24 hours after they hatch. It is great when they all hatch in the same day but typically there are some chicks that take longer to hatch. As for the humidity, I try to keep the humidity around 70 percent during the last three days of incubation, but 65 to 75% is good too. At 65 % your ducks and hatching eggs should do well. The increased humidity aids with hatching. When the ducks move out of the incubator to the brooder, they will most likely experience a decrease in humidity, as most homes have an average lower humidity than a heated incubator filled with water. I hope the rest of your hatching went well and that your ducks are doing great. I am so happy to hear you are getting your farm on!
Can you do this with dry hatching tho ?
Yes, you can. Here is the video link of my successful dry hatch using a heating pad under my incubator. Happy hatching 🐣
m.ua-cam.com/video/NpwjU1IZtYc/v-deo.html
I'm not sure why the heating pad would work since the inside of the incubator is a constant 99.5 degrees, therefore the eggs should be as well. With the pad under the machine what does this actually do? Thank you.
+Jim Marx Thank you for reaching out. I keep my house temperature on the cooler side, usually around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. My incubator instructions recommends placing the incubator in a room that is consistently warm, around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The heating pad helps to keep the incubator area at a consistent warm temperature which in turn helps the incubator to keep its temperature from fluctuating. Fluctuating temperatures can affect your hatch rate. I hope that explanation helps.
Does this work ok using the dry hatch incubation method?
Thanks for reaching out. I haven’t tried dry hatching but if you do, I would love to hear how it went for you.
7 put of 11 so far and Ive still got time today was hatch day how long until you intervene and help
Seven out of 11 is great! I try not to intervene but sometimes it’s necessary if they have been trying to hatch for over 24 hours with no progress. If they seem like they are in distress I will help them out. I am happy to hear you are getting your farm on!
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+Hunza & Gojal Valley Thank you 😄
Can you use a cardboard box?
Thanks for reaching out. I have not tried using a cardboard box as an insulator to hold heat around the incubator. I have received feedback from viewers who have used blankets and styrofoam containers as insulators for their incubators. One viewer said he keeps his incubator in a small laundry room in order to be able to heat a small area and keep it warm. Another viewer said they placed a heat lamp under the incubator table to warm the table below it. Such innovative ideas all with the common goal of providing or retaining heat around the incubator. Just make sure that there is adequate ventilation for the incubator. If you decide to give it a try, let us know how it goes.
How much water do you put ? When u just set up ?
Thank you for reaching out. Initially, I add warm distilled water to pot A in the Manna Pro incubator until the water level is 2/3 full in pot A. After that, I check the humidity level four times daily and add warm distilled water as needed. The amount of water added definitely fluctuates as it depends on the humidity of the room your incubating in. I check my incubators first thing in the morning. Normally, the incubators humidity has dropped overnight. I will add a small amount of distilled water, about an ounce or two. I will then go out and feed my farm animals and milk my goat. After that, I check on the incubators humidity level. If the humidity is not high enough, I add a little bit more distilled water. If it is too high, I open the vent on the front of the Manna Pro incubator or I open up the incubator to allow some humidity to escape. I repeat this in the evening as well. Add water, do farm chores and then check the humidity level as it does take time to stabilize and get an accurate reading. Happy hatching 🐣
Instead of nurture right can I use the trio cottage ?
Thanks for reaching out. What a cool incubator! I haven’t tried that incubator. I have had viewers share different ways they have kept their heat stable with different incubators. I like the constant temperatures the heating pads provide, however, viewers have said they have used blankets to hold heat in while keeping the vents uncovered. Some viewers use the styrofoam insulation that some incubators come with in order to hold the heat in. Another viewer said they used a heat lamp under the incubator table. Placing the incubator in a small heated room may work too. I would recommend checking your incubator instructions to see what room temperature is recommended for that particular incubator and then choose an option you feel will work best for that incubator. If you use a heating pad, just make sure no vents on the incubator are blocked. I currently have my heating pad on low under my incubator. Happy hatching 🐣
The humidity is high using the heating pad, is that a possible problem? It about 62
+Hannaniah Pinto I try to keep my incubators humidity between 48 to 55 percent for the first 18 days, then for the last three days of hatching I increase it to 65 to 75 percent humidity to aid in hatching. I do use a dehumidifier near my incubator as needed. I’ve found that adding just a small amount of water and then waiting for the humidity level to adjust before adding more helps to give me a better idea of how much water I need to add. You may have to keep your water levels low and add water as it dissipates. I have certainly added too much water which spiked the humidity. I used a bunched up clean paper towel and absorbed some of the distilled water I had added which brought the humidity back to a normal level. Too high of humidity can cause the chicks to have trouble hatching and can cause a late hatch. Humidity levels are tricky. I have also propped the incubator cover open just slightly with a pencil holding it slightly open to release some humidity for a short period of time when the other methods are not working. Just don’t try that while the chicks are pipping and hatching. We wouldn’t want any chicks to get vacuum sealed. I hope these tips help. Happy hatching 🐣
I’m so confused. I’ve always had high hatch rates, bought the heat pad from your link. Eggs developed until about day 10 then all embryos died in shell 😢
I hope you see my other message but in case you don't, I am so sorry to hear that all your embryos died. That is heartbreaking. The heating pad honestly does help my hatch rates. I have experienced many low hatch rates and through lots of trial and error and trying different incubators, I finally found the combination that works best for my hatch rates. Finding the right height for the incubator, the right room, away from windows, dehumidifiers if necessary and the correct temperatures can all factor in. I would recommend checking the temperature of your incubator with a thermometer to make sure the incubator temperature readings are accurate. I've had an incubator that wasn't calibrated correctly and the embryos died. Also, check the temperature of your heating pad to make sure it is not overheating. I am using two heating pads currently under two separate incubators. One heating pad reads 88 degrees Fahrenheit and the other reads 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep my incubator room temperature around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If your incubator room is warmer than that, then the heating pad may bring in too much heat for your incubator. I have only used the heating pads with the manna pro nurture right 160 incubators so I am not sure how it works with other incubators. I would also check to see if your incubator is able to ventilate properly. One viewer mentioned checking under your incubator to make sure your incubator doesn't have ventilation holes on the bottom that the heating pad could block. I hope this helps.
@@justonemorestoryfarm I keep my hatch room at around 68 degrees. I lost 2 clutches due to the heat pad. 99.5 degrees on my nurture hills incubator, had the heat pump ad on medium. Tossed the pad. Have had a successful hatch without it. If it were me, I understand affiliate links are important but it just doesn’t work in every situation. My nurture hills has never needed any addition. Works great as is. I lost 135.00. My fault I shouldn’t have put show eggs in an experiment.
I know this is all gonna trial and error also but its very discouraging when things dont go right. I'm struggling to keep the humidity above 48 on my incubator.
Thank you for reaching out. Incubating can be tricky to get everything just right with all the factors involved. Before using a heating pad my hatches were not great. The temperature in my house was just too cold for the incubator I was using. Getting the humidity right is an on-going challenge. I find incubating in my basement helps keep the humidity up but sometimes it spikes to high and I need to run my dehumidifier. The Manna Pro incubator comes with two water ports. If my humidity was too low with filling the single port, I can add distilled water to the second port. Also, there is a vent that I can increase or decrease the opening to help adjust the humidity. Check you incubator to be sure its sealed correctly. When my incubator was sealing right, I had to use tape on the seals to keep the incubator’s humidity up. I have read that using wet, clean sponges or wet clean paper towels inside your incubator can increase your humidity. Using a heating pad under your incubator may help with humidity as well as long as you keep up with the distilled water. I usually have to add distilled water twice daily while using a heating pad. I have had viewers reach out saying they have had success with dry hatching where you don’t add water for the first 18 days. That is not something I have tried though. Another option would be to try additional insulation around your incubator to help hold in the humidity. Some viewers have shared they use styrofoam containers around their incubators. Just be sure there is enough ventilation. Don’t give up though. You will find the best set up for your location and incubator.
@@justonemorestoryfarm thank you for the tips. It turns out the lid wasnt closed well. I'm not sure if someone in my house got curious and opened it but I closed it right and put a blanket underneath the incubator and the humidity is now at 55%.
@@justonemorestoryfarm Hello again, hoping you can give me some advice. This morning I candled my eggs to see how if they were progressing and they all seem to be dark solid when I check if theres an embryo or anything in there. Does this mean they're not gonna hatch or is that normal and should I keep going? Someone I know told me the eggs got cooked but the temps and humidity have stayed at a steady level so I'm not sure whats going on.
Does this stay on 24/7 and what type? All I found were ones that had a shut off.
+cara conlogue Thank you for reaching out. You’re right, most heating pads do shut off automatically. I had to search to find a heating pad that had a manual shut off. My mother in law happened to have one so I searched for the same one on Amazon. It’s a Sunbeam heating pad. I use the regular size for under my incubators now and I use the extra large size for my brooder heat caves. I put a link in the description of the video to the heating pad I use. All four of mine work great and have not shut off on me, thankfully. Just keep in mind that I am using the heating pad off label by keeping it running. The idea is to keep the area around the incubator warm to help with hatching. I do so with heating pads but you can use the heat source you are most comfortable with. Happy hatching!
All the heating pads I have found shut off after 2 to 3 hours for fire safety. How do u keep your heating pad on?
Thank you for reaching out. You’re right, most heating pads do shut off automatically. I had to search to find a heating pad that had a manual shut off. My mother in law happened to have one so I searched for the same one on Amazon. It’s a Sunbeam heating pad. I use the regular size for under my incubators now and I use the extra large size for my brooder heat caves. I put a link in the description of the video to the heating pad I use. All four of mine work great and have not shut off on me, thankfully. Happy hatching!
What is your rooster to hen ratio?!
+Leah Bonham Thanks for reaching out. Currently, I have two roosters with 13 hens.
I use the sane incubator
Just curious why do your chickens have some clothing on their backs?
Thank you for reaching out. That is a great question. My mother and I made chicken skirts to fit my hens in order to protect their backs from my two roosters. My two roosters are very gentle with the hens but they do have spurs and talons that can scratch the hens backs when they climb on top of their backs to mate. I have a video showing how the skirts work called “Chicken Fashion Show.” If you would like to see my chickens modeling their skirts down their snow runway to some good music, you should check it out. You’ll get a chuckle out of it. In that video, I also explain the benefits of chicken skirts. My hens always wear their skirts, except on laundry day, then they are naked as a jay bird.
Don’t most heating pads have an auto shutoff after a few hours? My sunbeam heating pad does.
Yes, some heating pads have automatic shut offs. I had to search on Amazon to find one that has to be manually turned off.
+President Witty Soft Paws Absolutely. Most heating pads have an auto shut off. It took some searching but I found one made by Sunbeam that does not shut off unless you manually power it off. The four that I have work great and do not shut off. I use them both for keeping my incubator temperature stable as well as for making a heat cave for my chicks in the brooder.
😂 um the mating clip you showed in the very beginning, he didn’t score with the girl 😅
+skincrx He must be camera shy 🤣
Mine is in my garage and it’s like 50° and we’re on day 12 and it’s looking good do I really need a heating pad❤
Thanks for reaching out. I am so happy to hear you are getting your farm on! It depends on your incubator and what it requires. My incubator works better in a room thats 80 degrees. Using a heating pad helps warm the air around the incubator so that I don’t have to heat an entire room. If your incubator is doing good in a 50 degree garage, that’s awesome and you don’t need a heating pad. Happy hatching 🐣
@@justonemorestoryfarm thank you so much it’s doing great but I might use a heating pad just to be safe ❤️
I have that incubator I used it twice. Nothing is hatching. It’s huge waste of money.
Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry that your incubator is not working properly. That’s awful that you lost all those eggs in both hatches due to a faulty incubator. Have you looked into returning it for a replacement?
What if I don't have a heating pad
Thank you for reaching out. Your goal would be to get the temperature of the room your incubator is in to be 74 to 80 degrees. Is there another way you can achieve this, aside from a heating pad, in your house? Do you have a small room that you can heat up higher than the rest of the house? Do you have a small space heater or a wood burning stove? I haven't personally tried it but Greg Rutter mentioned in the comments below "I just put a blanket over the incubators. It does the same job." You could give one of those options a try. If you want to use a heating pad, to achieve the elevated temperature, you may be able to find one someone who is giving away one on craigslist locally or you can purchase one through amazon. Here is the link, amzn.to/3wGZRIG. This is an affiliate link meaning you don't pay anything extra but our farm gets a small commission off your purchase. If none of those options work for you, let me know and we can brainstorm more ideas. Happy hatching!
I have a dumb idea, but I use those heating pads that Rural King sells for brooding. They're 45W. I wonder if setting them under the inbubator would work better than the Sunbeam pad since they stay at the desired temperature.
That’s a smart idea! I don’t have any experience with Rural King brooder heating pads but based on reviews it looks like a good product that would do the trick of keeping your incubator temperature consistent. Thank you for sharing.
@@justonemorestoryfarm I also have a question why do my eggs keeps dying when i try to hatch them like I put 5 eggs into the inqubater. Then they developed then died. I put 10 more eggs in they developed alot and they died. Please help I use the same inqubater and I have the humidity to 50-55 always and they just keep dying
I’m so sorry to hear that. That’s devastating. We need to get to the bottom of what’s going on there. The first thing that I would check is to verify that your temperature and humidity are actually what your incubator is telling you they are. Your incubator should have came calibrated but it’s important to check every time. If the temperature and/or humidity are off that can cause the eggs to stop developing. I had this issue with a different brand of incubator. I invested in a thermometer/humidity reader and realized it was not holding the correct temperature and humidity consistently. If this is not the case, the other thing I would check would be the location of your incubator. If your incubator is on the floor, the hatching eggs will joy get enough oxygen. Also, avoid direct sunlight from windows. Bacteria can also kill developing chicks as well so sanitizing your eggs and incubator prior to incubating can help avoid this. For more details on these, check out my video on washing your hatching eggs, incubator set up as well as how to hatch eggs in an incubator. I hope this helps. Please let me know how your next hatch goes.
How do you control the humidity?
Humidity can be difficult to control. I have experienced spikes in humidity followed by low humidity by morning. I don’t find that it affects my hatch rates, though. I have had spikes up to 82 % during lockdown when my chicks are hatching. When the humidity gets over 75 % during the lockdown, I take steps to correct it. If it gets over 65 % during day one through day 18, I will take steps to correct it. With my incubator, I can squeeze a clean paper towel corner into the water pot to absorb some of the excess distilled water. I, also, will slightly lift the lid of the incubator to release some humidity. You want to do this cautiously because you don’t want to cause a drop in temperature or fast changes in humidity, especially during the lockdown period. I also have a dehumidifier running in the same room as my incubator which helps. We just try to strike a balance in humidity as best we can. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I am happy to help. Thanks for watching and reaching out.
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Thanks for watching 😀
I have a question, I have been using a heating pad just like this and the temp stayed at 95.5 steadily, but the humidity stays way higher like even in the 70% and when I turn off the heating pad the temp stays the same but the humidity drops to the high 57% ish. Is that normal to have the humidity high even with the water full?
Thank you for reaching out. I have noticed that I need to add distilled water in small amounts, more frequently with the heating pad under the incubator. The Nurture right incubator has a ventilation window I can open further as needed to dissipate some of the humidity when it gets too high. If I add too much distilled water and the humidity spikes, I will use a paper towel to absorb some of the distilled water out of the water chamber. I also have a dehumidifier nearby that I run as needed. I try to keep the humidity around 50 percent for the first 18 days of incubating. Happy hatching 🐣
@@justonemorestoryfarm Thank you so much for replying! We are totally new to this. What started out as a homeschool project watching the different stages of eggs as we excitedly wait for them to hatch, has now turned into me wanted to keep them. (I may or may not have had that as a plan from the start to encourage my husband to let me keep them 😂....which worked- so now we are trying to quickly figure out a dyi coop for our backyard superb!!!). When I first candled the eggs Every single one had signs of life!!! I told my friend and she was shocked. So far your heating pad idea is working!!!!! I have been filling the distilled water regularly and have kept that vent window completely open. We shall see! We are on day 7!
Where do you get one that doesn't turn off after a few hours?
+Billy R Thanks for reaching out. The heating pads I use are made by Sunbeam. If you click the “more” button under this video you will see links for the two heating pads that I use. I don’t have any issues with them turning off even though I am using them off label running them non-stop for a long period of time.
@Just One More Story Farm thanks for the response!! I didn't watch the full video before I ask that and then you said it was in the link!! Awesome idea and thanks again
You are so very welcome 😃
Where was this video 21 days ago 😂
I’m sorry 😅 Hopefully UA-cam will show it to more chicken lovers to help with incubating. It works so well. Thanks for watching 😃
Isn't this a little bit of a fire hazard? Do you take any other precautions?
+Bug Martinez Thanks for reaching out. It certainly can be since I am using the heating pad off label. Precautions that I take is that I make sure the heating pad is flat under the incubator. I do not fold it. I make sure I use the heating pad cover that comes with it. I monitor the incubator and heating pad with a temperature gun often to make sure I am not seeing any temperature spikes. The room the incubator is in does have a smoke detector and I keep a fire extinguisher in my house. That being said, I use heating pads for not just my incubators but also for my chick brooders and for my cat beds in the winter. I have found the Sunbeam heating pads to be very reliable.
However, you do not have to use heating pads to have a great hatch rate. Other viewers have reached out saying they use other methods to warm up the area around an incubator such as blankets over the incubator, heat lamps under the incubator table, styrofoam around the incubator to insulate it as well as placing the incubator in a small room to hold the heat in. The goal being to keep the air around the incubator warm to avoid drafts or drops in temperature.
It’s like they hatch into a spaceship.😊
+N.O.Y.B. Yes! 😆 It does look like a spaceship!
Hey what is the things in the hens backs? I have 2 hens that have no feathers on their backs, is this for that? Is it from the roosters?
+Kyle Murray Thanks for reaching out. My hens wear chicken saddles. They are sometimes called chicken skirts or chicken aprons. They wear these to protect their back and sides from the roosters talons and spurs. My hens were losing feathers and two got cuts on their sides from the rooster spurs when my roosters would mount them. I made some for the skirts, which is what you are seeing in this video. If you want a better look at the home made skirts, you can see the chickens model them in the video “Chicken fashion show.”
I do prefer Hen Couture denim chicken skirts because they are more durable than my hand made skirts. You can see those skirts in my video “Why are my chickens wearing dresses?” There is an amazon affiliate link to those dresses in the drop down description box. I do find that they protect there backs and sides well. They allowed my hens back feathers to all grow back in nicely. While they were wearing the saddles, I allowed my roosters spurs to grow out, as well, since their backs were protected by denim. I have found that with longer spurs, my roosters balance better on the hens and are not doing damage to their feathers. I have been able to give the hens a break from wearing skirts now that the rooster spurs are long and curve upwards. If I start to see any feather damage or any injuries, the denim saddles will go back on.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I am happy to help. Thanks for watching 😃
@@justonemorestoryfarm Thanks for the detailed reply I will check that out, I just feel bad for these two hens because it’s so cold here where we live and I feel like their bare skin is really uncomfortable
You are so very welcome. How are your two hens doing now?
@@justonemorestoryfarm They are just as bad, now we have a few more with some wear starting on their back feathers and behind the comb.. the roosters are just rough I guess 🤷🏻♂️
What setting do you set your heat pad ?
I set my heating pad on medium under one incubator. When I set up two incubators next to one another I place them each on their own heating pad set on low. Happy hatching!
@@justonemorestoryfarm Thank you 😊
You are very welcome 😃
It helps if the eggs are fertilized.
+Michael Moore It certainly does. Thanks for watching.
How are you?
My family and I are doing well. Thank you for asking.
Hi wow m wow nice incubator mam hahaha 😘🐤🐥🐣
Hi there. Thank you for the compliment. I do love this incubator 🐣
Them hens FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
Thanks for watching 😃
You keep the pad on 24/7? That seems like a fire hazard.
+Kindra Hanneman Thank you for reaching out. Yes, I am keeping the heating pads on 24/7, which is using them off label. I have found that the Sunbeam heating pads I use are really reliable about regulating their heat output. I have been using them for my incubators, for heat caves in my chick brooders as well as heated beds for my kittens. There is always a risk of it being a fire hazard as there also is with the heat lamps I use for my brooder. I make sure to monitor the heating pads and keep the heating pads flat with the cover they come with on them. You don’t have to use a heating pad, though, the main objective is to make sure the room you have your incubator in has a steady temperature of approximately 74 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You could find a heat source that you would be more comfortable with using to achieve those temperatures.
That's how chickens breed ? I thought they were just wrestling 🤔 I bought hatching eggs and was told to plant them in the warmest part of the garden 3 inches deep none of them hatched !
Thank you for reaching out. I can completely see why you thought they were wrestling, but yes, that’s how chickens mate. It happens very quickly. I’m sorry to hear your eggs didn’t hatch. I have heard of reptiles burying their hatching eggs but not chickens. Chicken hatching eggs need a steady temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit for 21 days. That would be very difficult to achieve buried in a garden. The only two ways I have had chicken eggs hatch is with an incubator and with one of my hens sitting on a clutch of eggs for 21 days. I hope you will try hatching eggs again and not be discouraged. It really is a beautiful process. I have a video with step by step details on how to incubate your eggs if you decide to give it a try. Take care.
@@justonemorestoryfarm thanks so much ! You have inspired me!
+Zen Jamin I am so happy to hear that! Happy hatching 🐣
@@justonemorestoryfarm thanks for being so kind
100 percent hatch means EVEN THE UNFERTILIZED EGGS HATCH. Amazing it's like a transgender female had a baby...
Thank you for your comment. To get a 100 percent hatch rate, in my opinion, you need a 100 percent fertility rate to go along with it meaning that all your eggs that you place in the incubator are fertilized. I have been fortunate that my flock of two roosters with 8 hens and 4 pullets has a 100 percent fertility rate often.
I really like your brooder set up. Very innovative. Have a great day.
Danger. Do you know how often heat pads fail. You can get 3rd degree burns from a heating pad. They don’t allow these in retirement homes for a reason. They need to be monitored at all times. Never to be left unattended. You’re going to set your house on fire if you’re not careful.
Thank you so much for reaching out. That is a valid point that it can be dangerous since I am using it off label. I have also tried a seedling heat mat with good success and I am looking into alternative heat sources that may be safer. Maybe a reptile heat mat that is designed to stay on. I do appreciate you bringing it to my attention. Have a nice day.
not to get off topic but i'd give her a 100% fertility rate
Thank you.
BS.
People act like hens don't ever get off their nest and that the tempture doesn't fluctuate with hens hatching their own eggs😂
I tried this. Followed her instructions to the letter. Used her AFFILIATE link and ordered the heating pad. All the eggs were progressing nicely then on about day 10, they stopped growing. Every single embryo died.
Thank you for sharing. You point out that hens get off their nests and the temperatures fluctuate, which is true. When my broody hens sit on a whole clutch of eggs, I have had three chicks hatch at most. With my incubator, hatching rates are so much better. Adding in the heating pad honestly did increase my hatch rates. The eggs get short cooling breaks when I candle them, but the heating pad helps keep a consistently warm temperature which I believe helps with embryo development.
@@Wattsupwithhybristophilia I am so sorry to hear that all your embryos died. That is heartbreaking. The heating pad honestly does help my hatch rates. I have experienced many low hatch rates and through lots of trial and error and trying different incubators, I finally found the combination that works best for my hatch rates. Finding the right height for the incubator, the right room, away from windows, dehumidifiers if necessary and the correct temperatures can all factor in. I would recommend checking the temperature of your incubator with a thermometer to make sure the incubator temperature readings are accurate. I've had an incubator that wasn't calibrated correctly and the embryos died. Also, check the temperature of your heating pad to make sure it is not overheating. I am using two heating pads currently under two separate incubators. One heating pad reads 88 degrees Fahrenheit and the other reads 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep my incubator room temperature around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If your incubator room is warmer than that, then the heating pad may bring in too much heat for your incubator. I have only used the heating pads with the manna pro nurture right 160 incubators so I am not sure how it works with other incubators. I would also check to see if your incubator is able to ventilate properly. One viewer mentioned checking under your incubator to make sure your incubator doesn't have ventilation holes on the bottom that the heating pad could block. I hope this helps.
My only suggestion is to make SURE whatever incubator you are using does not have ventilation holes on the bottom, or the heating pad could block them off.
+Jacks Henhouse Thank you for reaching out. That is a great tip! I appreciate you sharing that 😃