FAQ's
Pre-incubation checks:
Ensure fan, temperature display, function keys, heater works well. Add water inside water channel, preheat the incubator and keep 20-30 minutes after checking, then if all is functioning as it should you can start the incubation process
Incubation Tips:
The first step for hatching is choosing best fertilized eggs. Then how to choose?
Fertilized Eggs must be fresh and generally within 4-7 days after laying is the best. The best temperature for saving fertilized eggs is 10-15℃. The fertilized egg is covered with a layer of powdery substance, which is strictly prohibited to put into fridge and wash as it will kill the embryonic cell.
The surface of egg shell should be free from deformity, cracks or any spots.
There’s no need to disinfect fertilized eggs. Do not attempt to disinfect if you can’t achieve the proper disinfection condition because improper disinfection may reduce the hatching rate. Just make sure the egg surfaces are clean and no spots.
Put the eggs on the rollers to start the incubation process, incubation of fertile eggs is divided into two categories.
1.Setting period: Setting of the eggs is the term used for the first 18 days(chicken eggs) where the fertile eggs are turned on a regular basis as to prevent the sticking of the embryonic cell to the egg shell which leads to early embryonic death, in nature this would be the hen pushing and kicking around the eggs on a daily basis, the higher temperatures and lower humidity in this period are to ensure the correct water reduction inside the egg and proper development of the embryonic cell.
The type of incubator used for the setting period is called a Setter, Brio Hatcheries supply incubators that are setter and hatcher combined and you will not require separate incubators as most other incubators on the market.
2.Hatching: Hatching is the term used for the last 3-4 days of the incubation process( day 19-21/22) with chicken eggs, this is where you must stop turning or moving the fertile eggs, by removing the rollers and laying them on the hatching tray or basket provided with your incubator, this will allow the fully developed chick inside the egg shell to absorb its nutritional sack and pep its way out of the egg shell, in this period you'll find that the temperature is lower and humidity is higher, this will ensure softer egg shells and higher hatch rates, please ensure that you do not open the incubator while busy hatching as the thermal shock with the ambient temperature will harden the egg shell and the chick will not be able to pep its way out.
The type of incubator used for this process is called a hatcher, but as previously stated, all Brio Hatcheries incubators are Setter and Hatcher combined incubators and are fully capable of doing both in one machine.
Why choose an incubator that rolls the eggs:
All Brio Hatchery incubators use rollers as the older less affective tilting incubators do not ensure the proper rotation of the fertile eggs, and usually aren't built to hatch the same amount of eggs as set in the incubator, the rollers ensure 360 degree rotation and reduces cost as it will hatch the same amount of eggs as set in the incubator.
Proper operation and careful observation are required during the incubation Such as :add water to the machine every 1 to 3 days (it depends on the environment and the content of water inside the machine).
Fertile eggs can’t be tested by egg Candler in the first four days during incubation, to avoid the incubator and egg surface temperature to decline sharply as it affects the embryo early development, we recommend never candling before day 7, we recommend only candle on day 10 and day 18.
The first time to candle eggs (10 to 12 days): Light from the pointed side of the egg. Mainly to check the development of egg embryo, the well-developed embryo is enlarged, with blood vessels inside, and the air chamber is large and sharply demarcated.
The second time to candle eggs (18 to 19 days): Light from the pointed side of the egg, a well-developed embryo is larger, it will appear to fill the egg shell, and no light in most places. If it’s a dead embryo, the blood vessels in the egg are blurred ,parts of the shell are yellow and can be clear near the air chamber, the boundary between the egg and the air chamber is not clear.
Note: Always remove the unfertile eggs, or early embryonic deaths, as these eggs can explode or crack and release toxic odors and liquids reducing hatch rates and increasing contamination and possibility for sickness.