Socialism Survival Podcast # 095: Building Incubator For Survival

★ Please, visit my web site @ socialismsurvival.com for all my previously recorded podcasts. ★ Check out my blog & forum. ★ Connect with me over the Internet: Google Friends Connect, Facebook, Twitter. ★ Call me from web site using Google Voice feature in right top corner of site’s main page. ★ Email your message to [email protected]. ★ Recommended books section. ★ Shop Amazon.com directly from socialismsurvival.com web site. ★ Start shopping Wal-Mart on socialismsurvival.com web site. ★ Link to socialismsurvival.com from your sites or blogs. ★ Rate & comment on iTunes, Microsoft Zune. ★ Spread the word about this podcast. ✦   Coleman Road Trip Power-chill 40 qt cooler. ✦ This kind of coolers vs Styrofoam or polystyrene coolers. ✦ Use garage or yard sales to find good used cooler. ✦ Cut a window in a lid so you can observe eggs, temperature, humidity. Attach a piece of acrylic plexiglass. ✦ Heating: incandescent light bulb or heating pad. ✦ Water heater thermostat and the best way to install it. Buy it in a water heater section in Lowes or Home Depot. ✦ Forced air or still air. I prefer forced air. Find cheap computer fan and 12v power adapter that will be with suitable characteristics. ✦ Floor – metal or plastic screen raised few inches from coolers floor. ✦ Temperature and humidity – maintaining proper balance of temperature and humidity is critical. ✦ Humidity – 60%, Temperature – 99.5 F degrees. Last 3 days humidity should be between 70 and 80 %s. Humidity maintained by having either water trays on the floor, or like I do – having glass jar with water and wet tissue hanging from it onto a sponge. Warning - prevent chick drowning. You can have electronic thermometer with hygrometer, or 2 scientific spirit thermometers, converting one into wet-bulb to measure humidity. ✦ Egg turning: either manually at least every 8 hrs, or having egg turner. ✦ Available incubators on the market. brands. HovaBator or Little Giant. ✦ Selecting eggs. Shipped by mail or from local farm. ✦ Setting eggs – sharp end down... marking if turning manually. ✦ Incubation periods. Chicken – 21 days. Coturnix quail – 17-18 days. Bobtail – 23 days. Guinea hen – 26-28 days. Most ducks and turkey – 28 days. ✦ PLUS (Something I missed to say): 1) After few days in the incubator you need to “candle” eggs. I do it using flashlight to see if my eggs are fertile, or not. After approximately 10-15 days, I’d throw away any eggs that are without signs of life within it. 2) When you measure temperature and humidity, reading should be taken @ the same level with egg’s top. Have a happy hatching!