AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

I ended up taking the turner at and put in a hovabator turner it fitted fine.
I will be interested how you go, I have 27 in plus two quail eggs

Hi,
I have been reading this thread with some interest in how everyone went with the JN8-48 incubator. I purchased a JN8-48 incubator a few weeks ago, followed the manual posted by stencorp69. Very helpful. Follwed the manual settings and all went well until mother nature added some minor temperature and humidity challanges in the past week.

I set 14 king quail eggs and 36 RIR eggs. At day 10 candled the RIR eggs and removed 4 clear (infertile eggs). Unfortunately could not get a good light to check the quail eggs. On day 16 I got a surpise when 2 quail eggs had hatched, I quickly started my other little incubator and removed all the other quail eggs from the auto JN8 trays. By the end of the day 4 hatched, I cracked open the others at day 18. One little quail had broken the membrane by not pipped, there were 2 others that died along the way the remainder were clear. Not bad considering some of the eggs were upto 3 weeks old. I was waiting for the female quails to set, I guess nature knows when all is not right (so many infertile). As a side one female quail has continued to lay and on Monday started sitting on 10 eggs. So I will see how she goes?

As for the RIR's, I candled again at day 18 when the eggs were removed from the auto turner, I removed another 4 eggs. On day 20 action, with me getting 23 from the remaining 28. 1 silly chick pipped at the small end and just didn't make it. The others appeared fully formed but just didn't make it. Some eggs were pushing the 14 day age limit.

The first group hatched in the afternoon and just jumped out. With the change in weather over Monday and Tuesday I did struggle with the hummidity, with a few strugglers being a bit sticky.

The result may not be perfect but I am more than happy with the first attempt with the JN8. A few more minor adustments when I set next year and hopefully a similar or better result.
But in all a good result. With more practice I an sure I will get the hatchability % up.
RIR

so Rhode Red,
I gather you got 23 chicks from 36 eggs? (not including the quail)....I would be happy with that....after all it's all relative isn't it?

Yes,
That is 23 chicks from 36 eggs set. Good considering factors including some eggs upto 14 days old, travelled 2 hours, not stored in the best conditions. I consider fertility and hatchability different evaluation factors in terms of breeding success. It was good the old cock bird was fertile nice and early in the season, considering the cooler winter temps.
Now the fun part, feeding them and watching them grow. Hope this year I get a better pullet to cockerel ratio than last year (8 pullets and 17 cockerels). This years lot in general are a darker lot, same parents.

The JN8-48 Auto worked well, though it feel strange not having to turn the eggs manually. Just didn't have the feel for the eggs during the incubation period. In terms of incubators for beginners is is very easly to operate and very little work, just add water every few days when the humidity got down to 45%.
RR

Hi all

I did a lot of reading and research about this incubator prior to purchasing one. I am new to this so throw some inexperience into the equation also. For that reason I also didn't want to go out and spend big $$$$$

I purchased some eggs and I believe they were atleast 2 weeks old, I only started the incubator the morning I left to get the eggs.

I seamed to have to add water all the time so I would say my humidity was very inconsistant all the time, I would fumble around with the lid off for ages.

Anyway long story short they hatched at day 18-19, from what I have read this could indicate it was running a little hot. From research I have done this seams to be the case with many of them.

Other than that it was great and for $200 I couldn't complain.

For my next go I have just added a secondary thermometer for $10, and a water line.

learnerchook mine tilts in the same way with no problems.

Shell1 I would be interested in how you added a water line. The water seems to need filling all the time and this would be great.

Great manual thanks. I have found that with both channels filled the humidity is too high and too low with one. I use one or two plastic jar lids to get it about right. I also adjusted the humidity alarm because it just seems to go off constantly.

I have a batch at day 5 so we'll see how they do.

Overall i think it was still a good purchase with most batches doing well.

I have eggs due to hatch in 1 week so I can give a report on the success or not of mine I hope its a glowing report but if I get 50% then I would be very happy for my first attempt I think

I too, would be interested in the water line.
how are people refilling, I have the turner on balance point on the edge of the incubator (which could end badlly) and refill with a little funnel, surely there is an easier way.
good idea

That is a good idea with the lids I will use that for the next eggs because yes they are a pain to fill?

I use a water bottle with a squeeze top and fill the channel between the trays.