New 40 egg incubator

MeChooks · **Joined:** Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:23 am **Posts:** 2

I have just got a new 40 egg incubator and after reading the booklet I am a little confused as it says it can hold 40 eggs optimum but would I be better only putting in say 30 eggs so as to give all the eggs a little room? I was thinking that way there is room for fluctuations as it is not going at optimum and I may get better rates of hatches? Is my thinking way off???

OakA · **Posted:** Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:37 am

YES, your thinking is just left of centre. [smilie=a_chuckle.gif]

You have a choice as to how you set it, you can put in the 40 eggs once every 3 weeks or set progressively so as to remove unfertile egss and set a certain number each week over the incubation period, whatever suits your needs.
If you set progressively mark the eggs in each set so you do not get confused and mix eggs of different sets and are able to identify any eggs that have not hatched and remove them.
To your original question.
An incubator works best if at full capacity re number of eggs contained, it is a matter of thermal mass, the eggs absorb heat and then cool slightly which then triggers the thermostat to turn on the heat source.The greater the mass the less often it will need to turn on and off, the less eggs it contains the less mass and it then requires more frequent boosts from the heat source.
You are not wrong, just not yet experienced with an incubator, they are simple to operate and maintain, it is just a matter of learning the ropes like any other new experience.
Enjoy the experience and good luck for many successful hatches.

MeChooks · **Joined:** Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:23 am **Posts:** 2

Thank you very much I just wanted to make sure I did it right otherwise I would never hear the end of it from the kids.

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New 40 egg incubator

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