Hovabator Setup

[puppiesandkitties]

I have the 1602-N Hovabator for incubating and I got it used and it was already set up. Instead of the perlite and vermiculite mix being in containers within the hovabator, it was laid directly in the hovabator. Can this be a proper setup, or do I need to put the mix in containers for successful incubation?

It would be nice if I can maybe see the insides of your hovabators and see how your eggs and stuff are setup in there.

 

[Lena]

I'm interested in seeing as well. I plan on buying a Hovabator and I'd like to know how I should set it up.

 

[acpart]

I can't say for sure that putting the substrate directly into the hobovator is or isn't a good idea because I've never done it that way, but I'd worry about maintaining humidity. I don't have a picture of my setup at this time, but here's a description:

I keep up to 4 small (6" x 6") covered gladware or tupperware containers in the hobovator. Each container is filled about 3/4 of the way with perlite (I use ALbey's incubation method) and can hold about 9-10 eggs which are labelled with the initial of the female and the clutch number. I don't have airholes in the containers; I open them for a moment weekly. A few months ago I put a hygrometer in the container and it was a steady 85-90% humidity. I keep a small open container of water in the hobovator to help maintain steady temperature.

I keep the container with the closest hatch date eggs in the front right hand corner of the incubator where I can look at them through the little plastic window. As those eggs hatch, I start putting the newest eggs in there, and eventually rotate all the containers clockwise so I'm always looking at the eggs most ready to hatch.

I use a proportional thermostat to make sure the temps stay steady and keep a digital thermometer with a probe on top of the incubator so I can always check the temp.

I hope that helps.

Aliza

 

[Nahph1]

hovorbator

Here's a quick pic of one of our incubators. Set up basically like stated above, but I use ziploc bags filled with water underneath the screen to help keep temp. stable. Also I use sterlite food containers that have a vent hole you can open and close. And I have the therm. prope in a small container usually kept in the center.(in the back corner in pic) Hope this helps.

 

[puppiesandkitties]

:main_thumbsup: Thanks. That helps a lot!

 

[DillanSimpson]

Nice incubator!