Egg Incubators 101

Which came first, the egg or the chicken? Unfortunately, no matter how much argument we put into this question, we may never really know. Luckily, we don’t really need to know. But what we can know and learn is how to make eggs into chickens or any animal for that matter. Through the power of science, we can conveniently imitate the process of hatching eggs by means of egg incubators.

An egg incubator is a device that mimics the environment set by a mother hen when it tries to hatch eggs. Nowadays modern incubators are electrically powered. These are used in egg farms or anyone interested in raising birds from an egg at home. Sizes vary from the need, from home egg incubators to industrial ones.

There are a lot of things to consider when incubating eggs. Heat, humidity and even rotation of the eggs throughout the process should be considered. Too much heat and you could end up with scrambled eggs. Forgetting to rotate them then you could also end up with a half-cooked meal. Fortunately, these too have been put into consideration by modern incubators.

A regular egg incubator is composed of a heater (usually a bulb), thermometer and a container with holes. Homemade incubators are as effective as store-bought ones. More sophisticated egg incubators almost have the same design as the basic ones, except with much more modern thermometers that monitor and automatically adjust the heat when needed. High-end ones also have electric rotators that from time to time rotates the egg.

Most of these egg incubators are used nowadays to save money. Although, for example, a hen, does a good job in hatching eggs the old way. Egg incubators make the process more safe and accurate. Hundreds and thousands of money may be lost if this process of egg hatching is not done properly. That’s why most people in this business consider investing in egg incubators.

Progress happens when you know that the technology nowadays can exactly mimic what nature can do. Egg incubators do not only makes it more efficient to raise animals for those in his business but it can now also allow us to watch the beauty of birth in our own homes. Egg or chicken? Well, why not both?

Advantages of Egg Incubators

The number of people getting interested in egg incubators is increasing. People such as poultry farmers and egg enthusiasts are seeing the advantages of using egg incubators. The truth is there are a lot of things it can do for a business and hobby.

Owning egg incubators can be advantageous for business because it can be used to substitute the conventional way of hatching eggs. Usually, birds incubate the eggs on a seasonal basis. Egg incubators eliminate this problem because they can incubate eggs all year round. Moreover, incubators nowadays are very accurate. They mimic the exact conditions needed to successfully hatch eggs. When it comes to hatching eggs, one way to replace Mother Nature is by using egg incubators.

Some people may wonder about the accuracy of these devices. The truth is these egg incubators are more accurate than the real thing. Although one may argue that mother nature still knows best, in this case, it does not always follow. Since most incubators these days have additional features such as thermometers and humidifiers and whatnot, they tend to be safer to hatch eggs. Since heat and humidity are two of the most important factors that need to be considered in egg hatching, egg incubators got that covered.

Another thing that incubators can do is massive hatching. A regular chicken can only do so much. Poultry farmers can benefit a lot from these. Since number plays a lot the in egg hatching business, then there is no way you can lose with egg incubators. Furthermore, since these devices are already perfected, there is no way that the quality of hatch eggs is compromised. In a sense, poultry farmers get the best of both worlds, quantity and quality.

The rotation of the egg is another thing that needs to be considered when hatching eggs but that too is now covered by egg incubators. Automatic egg turners are now available on selected incubators. So eggs will no longer be turned manually. These egg incubators also have specialized trays that hold specific eggs of different sizes and requirements. These means that you are sure to always get perfect hatched fouls.

In summary, egg incubators are one of the most helpful devices that have been created to help the poultry keeping business. They are efficient, convenient and accurate and are a sure way to grow a hatchery business.

What to Consider When Choosing an Egg Incubator

Need to have the perfect egg incubator? If you are deciding to purchase yourself an incubator to help you hatching needs, then there are a lot more things to consider than price. Here are some things you need to know when choosing the incubator for you:

1. Simplicity is the key

When choosing a good egg incubator, do not right away go for the most expensive. All incubators are alike in so many ways and sometimes the most expensive one will just waste your money. In a sense, if you can choose an incubator with only the basics in it, you will still end up with the same results. What is important is that you mimic the conditions set to hatch an egg. An incubator with a heater and proper ventilation will do the work fine.

2. Hit the books and research

If you are a beginner in hatching eggs, do some research. Different eggs hatch differently, in time and conditions needed. Be sure to have enough information on your chosen fowl or reptile. Get a read on its life cycle and be sure to prepare yourself on what might happen along the process.

3. Experience is the best teacher

Ask for advice from people who actually have experience using an incubator and have been hatching eggs for a certain period of time. Sometimes the most practical and useful advice cannot be found anywhere, better get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

4. Be firm and do not get distracted

Sometimes technology blinds you from choosing the best incubator. So stick to what you only need. There are a lot of innovations on egg incubators nowadays, and they keep getting more and more sophisticated. Going to a store without any preparation will sometimes blind you and you will end up buying something you do not really need. Consider, if this is your first time, you do not need to be confusing yourself with all the fuss of technology when hatching is your main concern.

5. Temperature, humidity and ventilation

These two are what you need to consider when looking for an incubator. Look for an incubator with the most accurate reading. And proper ventilation is the third thing. Failing to do these will affect the conditions of your egg and subsequently cause your eggs to hatch abnormally. High temperatures can cook your eggs hard-boiled while humidity will affect the health of your eggs. Proper ventilation prevents overheating and equal distribution of moisture.

There are currently a lot of websites that offer egg incubators. Take time to consider these tips and choose the best one for you. Happy picking and enjoy hatching your eggs!