Resources
Incubators
There are many types of incubators. It depends on the number of eggs, your budget, investment with your time (egg turner or no egg turner).
Basic incubators require more work on your end as you will have to closely monitor the temperature and humidity and turn the eggs several times each day. However, they are the most economical option. They include:
Circulated "forced" air incubators circulate the warm air throughout the incubator. They include the above plus:
Advanced incubators - circulated air
Incubator with circulated air and egg turner - approximately
There are many types of incubators. It depends on the number of eggs, your budget, investment with your time (egg turner or no egg turner).
Basic incubators require more work on your end as you will have to closely monitor the temperature and humidity and turn the eggs several times each day. However, they are the most economical option. They include:
- Incubator
- Heating element
- Channels on the bottom to hold water (maintain humidity)
- They do NOT circulate air which means the temperature can be uneven throughout the incubator (warm air rises, cool air sinks). Temperatures can vary by up to 5 degrees and may affect hatching.
Circulated "forced" air incubators circulate the warm air throughout the incubator. They include the above plus:
- Small fan
- Better, more reliable thermometers and humidity gauges
- Possibly a display that shows the daily countdown to hatch and automatic adjustments to heat and humidity
- Possibly an egg turner
Advanced incubators - circulated air
Incubator with circulated air and egg turner - approximately
General Topics
Below are some links I found useful as I started developing my programs.
- How do chicks develop once they are hatched? When do they have to move from the brooder to a coop? LINK