Using Hovabator Questions...

[Turtlestork]

I will soon be having crested eggs I need to incubate. I would like to use a Hovabator thermal air incubator. I understand that there is a thermostat wafer that you must adjust to the right temperature in the incubator and it will keep it at that temperature? Do I use a digital thermometer with a probe to monitor the temperature? What brand is the best? Also, where do I place the probe? Inside one of the deli cups or simply inside the incubator? I just would like to know everything about this incubator before I buy it.


Also, do you punch holes in the deli cups, or keep them sealed? Thanks.


TS

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Yes, use a digital thermometer w/ probe to monitor the temps. I just use inexpensive Acurite brand thermometers. I put the probe pretty much in the center of the hovabator. Hovabators are the classic tried and true incubator. They're inexpensive, easy to use, and work well. You really can't go wrong buying one. Get the model without the fan. As for holes or no holes in the deli cups, it depends on the type of eggs you're incubating as well as personal preference. I don't work with cresteds, so I can't really say what works best for them. Try asking in the crested forum. Good luck

 

[Turtlestork]

Ok. So whatever temperature is in the open air of the incubator will be the temperature inside the deli cups? Thanks for the information.


TS

 

[lessthantito]

I hatched out almost 40 crested eggs last year and I only lost 3-4 eggs and I never used a incubator,so unless it gets really hot/cold where you live they can be hatched at room temp and my days fluctuated from 74 to 84 and nights were anywhere from 65 to 75

 

[BlakeDeffenbaugh]

I always just put crested eggs in a deli cup with a 1.1 mix of vermiculite to water by weight and just put them on top of the fridge. I only checked up on them to make sure it was still moist enough. . if the eggs started to dimple I added a little more water. Other than that I just left them alone till they hatched. I never even kept track of when they where laid and when they should hatch. Just put them up there till I seen babys runnin around.