Hatching Quail

 

As we are trying to increase our quail flock for production and sales, we realized we need to have a larger and more reliable incubator.  After much research and discussion (and advice from trusted long-time pros!) we decided to go with a Brinsea Ovation 56X.   

A quick, free, delivery from their Amazon store!

 

The cats love delivery day!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the Brinsea is a bit pricey for a table-top incubator, these features make it worthwhile for us. 

1.      The capacity is 56 chicken eggs or 70+ jumbo quail eggs.  Or 2 black cats.

2.      The humidity is programmed and automated.  No more checking multiple times daily and frantically adding water (and trying not to add too much) to keep it around 45-55%

Doesn't everyone?  And no, it's not.  Just distilled water.

3.      The turning is programmable.

4.      It has a fan (i.e., it is not “still-air”)

5.      The top is double-sided leading to better maintenance of temperature and humidity.

6.      It can be programmed to have a once-daily “cool-down” period.  In theory, this mimics Mama Hen getting off the nest for a brief period.

7.      Brinsea’s standard good visibility as hatching begins.

It does not have a pre-programmed lock-down feature but let’s be honest; if we are paying attention to lock-down, there is a bit more for us to do at that point than just stop the turning (open up, remove the turners, candle the eggs for fertility, etc.) so having that on the calendar rather than being a programmed feature is a minor detail.

Who doesn't love a good spreadsheet?!
 

We are in the process of testing our current breeder group’s fertility with a hatch going in our old trusty IncuView.  That one is less than a week away from hatch.   

But now we also have a larger hatch going in the new Brinsea.   


It’s a good thing we have two brooders right now! 

I think Cletus is going to have to get busy building another tractor or three!

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