by Susan Carter |
Last Updated: March 23, 2017 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
Preparation is one of the greatest pillars in the success of any hatching undertaking on a poultry farm. As a farmer, getting optimal hatching results is dependent on how you prepare everything, starting with the incubator.
This is because setting the incubator for hatching will play a significant role in the success of the incubation process.
The stages involved in this process formulate the purpose of this article. These stages are listed below as follows:
Setting Up Your Incubator
Cleaning and sterilizing
Image courtesy of: www.omlet.co.uk
Ensure that you clean and sterilize the incubator before you set it unless it is still new. Make sure that you do not immerse the incubator in water while cleaning it because it can damage it. Additionally, you need to do the cleaning while the incubator is unplugged.
Getting an ideal location
You need to ensure that you get an ideal location for the incubator. The location should not be exposed to fluctuating temperatures. Instead, you need to set it in a room that is able to maintain a steady flow of temperature and also easy to access freely when you need to check on the progress of the eggs.
Additionally, you need to position it in a room that is away from windows and doors so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Add water to the incubator
Image courtesy of: youtube.com
Humidity is one of the vital conditions necessary for the success of the incubation process. That is why in many cases it is necessary to fill it with warm water in order to maintain correct humidity.
Setting up the turner
This stage is not necessary if you are using an incubator that requires manual turning of the eggs. As you place the turner into the incubator, ensure that every part of the turner is in its rightful place. Make sure that the turner is fitted properly so that it does not damage the incubator.
Placing the lid
After you have safely set up the turner in the incubator, it is time that you place the lid on the incubator. As you do this, you need to take note of some few issues so that you can maintain the effectiveness of your hygrometer and thermometer.
You need to ensure that as you set the lid, don’t leave any open space anywhere. Additionally, ensure that the vents of your incubator are placed securely.
Plugging in the power cords
At this stage, you need to make sure that the power cables are safely connected. Do this connection in manner that is safe both for the eggs and other users in the home. Ensure that nobody or pet can trip over the cords and disconnect them from the socket and break the eggs.
Lastly, test the incubator
After you have set up the incubator successfully, it is now time that you test it. Make sure that you test the incubator by running it for a few hours so that it is warmed before loading the eggs.
You need to switch on the light and assess the humidity and temperature .You can still make every necessary adjustment to the temperature and humidity until you are totally convinced that they are at their best before you load the eggs.
Image courtesy of: www.omlet.co.uk
Conclusion
As we wind down on our discussion, it is important to remember that the preparation of your incubator will greatly affect the final success of the hatching process. You need to go through all the stages we have covered carefully but with simplicity and in a relaxed manner the same way you would enjoy your favorite week pastime.
With all that said,you can move on and load your eggs and expect a successful hatching.