Instructions for Hova-Egg Incubator

Incubators are containers in which constant heat and humidity are maintained in order to hatch the eggs of birds or reptiles. The Hova-Bator incubator has been designed to offer a self-contained environment for both incubating and hatching eggs. This incubator can be used to hatch eggs that range in size from quail eggs to turkey and duck eggs. You turn the eggs by hand in the standard Hova-Bator incubator. The incubator is user friendly and will accept an optional automatic egg turner, if required.

Things You'll Need

  • Small plastic jug
  • Warm water
  • Power source
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the four owl clips to attach the plastic liner to the wire floor. Slide each clip under the plastic liner and over the wire floor.

    • 2

      Position the wire floor and liner onto the bottom of the Hova-Bator. Align the cut-out section on the wire floor with the water trough, which is the depression in the middle of the incubator floor.

    • 3

      Pour warm water gently into the trough in the middle of the incubator floor. Do not let the water overflow, but do not be too concerned about the depth, as humidity within the incubator will be related to the surface area of the water and not the depth.

    • 4

      Thread the wing nut onto the adjustment screw. Place the screw carefully into the bracket slot and thread the screw down until a length, long enough to accept the wafer, appears on the other side of the bracket. Thread the wafer onto the end of the adjustment screw that appeared on the inside of the bracket.

    • 5

      Plug the incubator into a wall power source and turn it on.

    • 6

      Turn the adjustment screw carefully counterclockwise until the light is triggered. Give the screw an additional four turns after the light comes on. A temperature of 99 to 101 degrees F is ideal for hatching poultry eggs.

    • 7

      Remove the red vent plugs from the top or lid of the incubator if you are at an altitude above sea level of 6000 feet or higher.

    • 8

      Remove either one or both of the red plugs if water vapor is noticeable against the incubator's window. Water drops are an indication that the humidity is too high.

    • 9

      Open the top of the incubator for a brief period if removing both plugs does not reduce excessive humidity within the incubator. Optimal humidity should be 58 to 60 percent from day one to day eighteen, then 66 percent until hatching.