Ameraucana Forum
The Official Ameraucana Forum => Housing, Health & Hatching => Topic started by: Russ Blair on March 25, 2015, 03:30:12 PM
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Ok I am deciding to bite the bullet and upgrade to a new incubator. I am thinking of getting a 1502 sportsman I was just wondering what your guys experience has been with them? I was thinking of getting the professional GQF and then just hatch in my little home made and styrofoam GQFs, with hopes of buying a hatcher next year, but I have said I was upgrading my incubator 3 years ago also. My second question is should I also purchase the bucket for humidity, and what egg racks have you found to be the best for LF and Bantam Ameraucana? Or do you recommend something totally different?
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The egg racks I had in mind were the TR30 for the LF and the TR50 for bantams
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Russ, I used a GQF 1202 for years before switching over to a Dickey model cabinet incubator. Mine has the electronic thermostat with a wafer back up thermostat, water pail sets on top, and a thermometer and hygrometer installed inside the plexiglass door where it can be easily read. Style is similar to the GQF, as Dickey is a former GQF employee. My understanding is the Dickey is less expensive, although I bought a one year old unit off Craigslist. Just tell the company what size eggs you plan to set, and they will recommend the best choice for you.
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Thanks I will search Dickey, I have never heard of them. Thanks Mike
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Sounds like a good plan. Get the "professional" so you aren't temped to hatch in the setter incubator. I believe these newer models even have two fans. Get the water pail for the setter, but not for the hatcher that you buy next year. The hatcher only runs for 3 of 4 days at a time and the water pan shouldn't need to be refilled during that time.
I used the Robbins Incubator R5X6 egg trays for LF eggs. They hold 30 eggs and take up less space than the other 30 egg trays that many suppliers carry. I would cut one on a band saw, so that I could 78 LF eggs per rack as I recall.
I think I used the 48 count bantam/pheasant egg trays. I also cut some and could get a lot of bantam eggs per rack.
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Another idea for egg trays...in my homemade setters I use 132 egg Chickmaster style trays. I bought them used thru Hawkhead Hatchery Equipment (http://www.hatcheryeqiuipment.com/index.html). As I was typing I realized that I believe the new 1502 doesn't have a metal tray, that sides onto the rack, like the old units did. Maybe Chickmaster egg tray could be cut shorter to fit, if the width of the racks works for these. That would be similar to the way the trays side into my setters.
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John, what became of your project a few years ago - didn't you build some incubators?
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Russ:
I'm right on your heals. Let us know what you decide. Have you considered the Brinsea cabinets?
Duane
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Ok, I have researched and made the phone calls. I am going with a Dickey even though each has it pro's and con's. Dickey is made out of wood which I will admit I prefferred the plastic of the GQF, but they come with metal trays on the racks and a metal hatching tray with a lid. Not to mention they will ship today for $175 less what a GQF cost with all the bells and whistles. It would be 2-4 weeks for the GQF. This includes automatic humidity bucket, digital hygrometer mounted on door, egg trays, incubator and divider for hatching tray. It also has an electronic thermostat with a wafer back up. Grand total $800 to my door, oh am I excited . Oh and Duane I did check out the Brinsea but I will be honest the cost alone scared me lol. Unfortunately this chicken hobby of mine still ends up in the red every year. So cost is an important factor in my decision, as long as it doesn't sacrifice quality that is.
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That is exciting Russ! How many eggs does the Dickey hold?
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I believe 90 per shelf for chicken eggs, so 270 total. Oh and I saved $19 by providing my own bucket for the auto humidity. Hatching tray has 2 dividers so that gives me 3 compartments to keep chicks from different pens separated until I can toe punch. 3-4 days I should have pictures of it to share I am sorry just checked its up to 96 per shelf lmao whew who that's even better. They have all different configurations also, even a 2 shelf setter with 2 hatching trays in the cabinet. Just punch in dickey incubator on Google search and presto.
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Just got a phone call from the wife wondering what I ordered. I think the new incubator is sitting on my porch lol. We didn't order a dish washer and that's the size of the box. I am excited and a little scared at the same time. Maybe I should of mentioned it to her before it showed up??? On another note pretty good service from Dickey, ordered it on Thursday and got it on Monday 😃
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Russ - Congratulations on the new incubator. If it were me I'd explain to your sweet wife the business aspect of the incubator and that you haven't forgotten about the dishwasher. Perhaps it could be the next item you order? I'm generally the one explaining things like that to Howard since he isn't a chicken person. Best of luck. Linda
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Russ, just play ignorant...l don't know where that came from honey, but we might as well use it till the delivery people realize they made a mistake .........nahh..better just go buy the dishwasher
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I was laughing out loud telling Kathy about this thread. ;D
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I like Stan's idea! Or, I 'spose you could try the one that goes... "Honey, we need to talk. I know I've got to fess up. I've got an addiction and I need help..."
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You do *need* the dishwasher. Best way I've found to clean parts after hatching! ;)
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Russ? Russ? Speak to us! Are you OK? Don't worry, your body will probably heal almost as good as new!
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It's a whole lot easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, as the saying goes...good luck Russ! ;D
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Ok figure I better update my situation before an APB is posted. First off my wife was very understanding which has me worried, what does she have being delivered??? Since we already have a dish washer I am a little nervous. Secondly after assembling a few minor parts/pieces (door latches,wafer etc.) I plugged in the new incubator and adjusted temp. It is holding 99.5 perfectly. Tonight I have to stop and buy a bucket and install automatic humidity and finish final adjustments. I am loving the new incubators hatching and setting trays. Overall I am impressed with the quality of the Dickey incubator. I noticed on the paper they sent they also sell brooder a for around $90 stay posted for the next mysterious box being delivered 😃
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Am I correct that if you want to stagger your hatches you must have a separate hatcher?
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Am I correct that if you want to stagger your hatches you must have a separate hatcher?
No...strongly suggested. ;) The GQF style cabinet incubators with 3 racks for setting and one hatch basket are designed as an "all-in-one" incubator.
If you buy the unit without the hatch basket they call it "Professional" and it is just used as a "setter" incubator. They also offer the "Hatcher" incubator to finish the job.
There are several benefits to using separate setters and hatchers. All commercial hatcheries use separate hatchers and I think that is a good indication which way is best.
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Russ, post some pics will ya :)
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Trying not to tech savvy 😔
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http://s1083.photobucket.com/user/Russell_Blair/library/Mobile%20Uploads
Let's see if this works? First batch going in the new incubator 😄
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Evidently there are no vent holes in the back of the Dickey, since you have it up against the wall. I would probably keep it at least 6 inches out from the wall, even if it is an inside wall, for better air flow around the unit. It may make very little difference in the inside temp, but may help maintain a more constant temperature. Do the instructions give any suggested or minimum clearances?
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It should have two adjustable vents in the back, one high and one low. I keep mine about 1/3 to 1/2 open until I want to raise the humidity level at hatch time, then close it to less than 1/4 open. But you will have to experiment to see what works best for you. You will need to move it out from the wall to adjust the vent openings.
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Evidently there are no vent holes in the back of the Dickey, since you have it up against the wall. I would probably keep it at least 6 inches out from the wall, even if it is an inside wall, for better air flow around the unit. It may make very little difference in the inside temp, but may help maintain a more constant temperature. Do the instructions give any suggested or minimum clearances?
John, can you by any chance post the information on how you built your incubators? I cant remember where I saw it. It was a while ago.
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It is actually about 2 1/2 in from the wall. I just have to slide it a little to reach the vents. It has been holding steady @ 99.5 with humidity @ 45% for 2 days prior to setting eggs. 2/3 is about what I have the top hole open and 1/3 on bottom hole. I will move it a little farther from the wall. Makes sense now that you say it 😣 it didn't have any recommendations for clearance. I wasn't planning on hatching in it much if at all. I am hoping to build my own little hatcher. You can buy the metal hatching trays with lids fairly cheap so a two tray hatcher shouldn't be much over $100 to build. So I didn't pay much mind to having to adjust vents much, that's why it's good to be on this forum 😃
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John, can you by any chance post the information on how you built your incubators? I cant remember where I saw it. It was a while ago.
Beth mentioned them recently also. I plan to start a topic about them with the photos, but just haven't had the time yet.
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it didn't have any recommendations for clearance.
It is very similar to a GQF and in their instructions (https://www.gqfmfg.com/pdf/Cabinet%20Model%20Instructions.pdf)they recommend at least 12" from the wall.
The back of the incubator where the vents are located should be placed no closer to a wall or barrier than 12 inches (30cm) in order to have free air exchange within the room.
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congratulation on the Dickey russ. Looks like a winner.