Reviewing $40 Smart Incubator from Amazon

I have hatched out 3 sets already and have had 100% hatch rates so far other than the eggs that were not fertile of course, I've had better success with these than I did my nurture right 360 which the best I ever had was like 70% hatch rate

[@cherylhunter3196]

What temperature did you set it to for chickens? I have this incubator but had a low hatch rate :(

[@thevaughnhomestead]

I had mine set at 38 celcius, also I glued the water hole shut and only added water which I directly poured into the incubator around day 18, place incubator in a temperature controlled room that is under 75 degrees, and lay a shirt or towel over it to help insulate......also when you say low hatch rate what do you mean? cause say you have 15 eggs and only 7 hatch but when you candle the other 8 the whole egg glows... that means the eggs that did not hatch were not fertile therefore never had a chance no matter what incubator you have cause there was no sperm in them.... if when you candle around day 18-21 they are dark inside but did not hatch then yes there may in a incubator setting issue

[@DesiJugaarDIY]

Your eggs Quality plays major role plus proper temperature and humidity .

[@brcath1616]

I personaly alway keep the styrofoam in the bottom and the top in the process. That help to keep the temerature and humidity more stable

[@thevaughnhomestead]

yea I can see that working as well...... didn't think about that when I unboxed them

[@robertwalker8052]

just received one of these incubators from Amazon and getting it set up! can you explain the set button ? do you need to press that after adjusting temp with up down arrows ? you do a great job with your videos and homestead.. thank you!!

[@thevaughnhomestead]

honestly I just sold both mine cause I'm getting out of breeding for now, just keeping, but If I remember correctly once you set the temp where it needs to be you don't have to do anything else, when you hit the button that says "set" that just shows what it is currently set to, I think to change the temp you hold the set button down and while holding it down change the temp using the up and down button

[@Chickenmom777]

Where’s the air holes?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

It does not have any, but each time you lift the lid off it allows fresh air, and when chicks hatch they can still breathe.... and they have a slow breathing rate

[@Chickenmom777]

@@thevaughnhomestead thank you so much for responding. How often do you lift the lid?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

@@Chickenmom777 every 3-4 days until they hatch then once a day while theres babies hatching

[@oliviaevans702]

First time hatching and I have some questions. What do you keep humidity at? How much water do you add and how often? Can I write on them with sharpie? I heard it ruins the bloom. How long do you leave the chicks in once they hatch? Does this incubator auto turn every few hours or do I have to hold the button? Chronic overthinker and google gives me 2-3 different results. Thank you for any answers

[@thevaughnhomestead]

- Me personally I dont worry with humidity, I dry hatches a lot and do not have any issues, and sometimes I add water about 3 days prior to hatching just to help the eggs soften a little -yes you can write on the eggs with a sharpie -I take the chick out once they are almost dry -this incubator does turn on its own, on day 18 (for chickens) you will take the turner tray out so that they no longer turn

[@OvaliteFanClub]

What buttons can you press to turn the eggs manually?

[@zubar2002]

Could you be able to do a video from start to end or the whole process?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

unfortunately I sold mine due to I stopped breeding for the time being

[@rolandorios6272]

How much water you add inside when you open it

[@thevaughnhomestead]

I wait until about 3 days before the hatch date and then add about 1 cup of water to it

[@Athopyskitchen]

Thank you..I appreciate this video. I have not have success with the incubator I got before and it was expensive...

[@thevaughnhomestead]

yea I had the nurture right 360 which was almost $200 and did not have as much success with it, been having a lot more success with these $40 ones, thanks for watching

[@kateashplant3532]

Hi I have used this incubator twinge with low success first time and no success the second time. I have invested in a humidity tester and it says 95% and there is no air hole could this be the reason why I have had little success. Other incubator I have used had good success and had air hole. I have booked the water hole and only added small amount of water

[@Chickenmom777]

@kateashplant3532 my exact question about no air hole. Did you ever get an answer to your question about that. I have been looking but have found no answers.

[@reneem4377]

I have this unit, the temperature concerns me. I put a little mini hygrometer inside and it says the temperature is only 36°, but the incubator is saying 38°. I have it in Styrofoam for extra warmth, and also a towel over half of it. My house is on the cooler side and very dry...do you thinking putting it on a heading pad would help? it's my first time incubating, I'll be sad if they don't hatch 😢 #firsttimechickenmom

[@thevaughnhomestead]

it should be fine, problem is neither the incubator nor the hygrometer is calibrated correctly, so both are gonna be a plus or minus by a hair bit, but as long as its pretty close it should be fine, and I also added a shirt over mine since the room I kept them in was kept at 65-68 degrees lol

[@williamadams6532]

How do you tell humidity

[@thevaughnhomestead]

the way I do it is watch for condensation on the cover walls.... I have also had great success doing dry hatches as well with these incubators where I did not use water at all..... a man I buy from says he has been doing dry hatches for years and never adds water anymore

[@texaspreppermom]

I have this incubator. I bought a thermometer that also measures humidity and just lay it inside.

[@jenniferberger6993]

Is it ok there’s not a vent hole for air for the last few days of hatching?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

yes I didn't have any issues

[@Shapa7]

Good evening, would you recommend me to buy one of them, knowing that I am a beginner in the field of hatching?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

yes definitely!!! very simple machine and very good outcomes/results with this one

[@AlejandroMondragon-f1j]

How long does it usually take for the first rotation and my turner doesn’t touch with the bottom plate center is that how yours is i think it will have just enough to touch it to make it turn though im not sure i ordered 1 and got 2

[@thevaughnhomestead]

I’m uploading a video tomorrow that is a part 2 specifically talking about and showing the Turner part, check tomorrow for it and hopefully it’ll show what you need to know

[@christythebestever5475]

Mine won’t turn 😢 why? Like it won’t turn when I have it set up the way it’s supposed to WHENNI mess with it not attached to the rest of it with the eggs it’ll turn But not with I out the lid down etc What do I do ??

[@thevaughnhomestead]

I'm trying to make sure i understand, are you saying it does not turn at all or only when the lid is on it?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

I’m uploading a part 2 video tomorrow that will show how the Turner works and hopefully will help you out with your issue

[@onurasa6546]

Hello, I bought this machine. Will the temperature remain constant at 38 until hatching and will no water be added for 18 days?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

hello there, yes I had no problem with the temp, but for added safety and placed a shirt over mine just to help insulate it since I keep my house cold, and I myself don't add water until day 18 when I take the turner out

[@onurasa6546]

So the machine works without water for up to 18 days. How much water do you add for 18 days and did you measure the humidity?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

it will work with or without water regardless, some people use water the whole 21 days, some people don't use water at all, I add at day 18 so that it will help soften the shell a little to help the chicks come out, and I add about a cup of water at day 18 and that's it, don't matter if you add more than that it won't hurt, and I don't worry with measuring the humidity level at all @@onurasa6546

[@jesusalbertoesquivel5067]

Great info, thank you so much 🎉

[@onurasa6546]

Thank you for providing descriptive information.

[@fluidlessanimations8689]

What about the ventilation system?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

I only take the lid off on day 10 to candle the eggs to see if any are unfertile which I throw them out and other than that I don't take the top off until I'm taking babies out

[@jesusalbertoesquivel5067]

Is it bad if it doesn’t spin ?

[@fluidlessanimations8689]

depends, If you are okay with turning the eggs twice a day by yourself, then it really isnt a big problem

[@thevaughnhomestead]

yes if your depending on the incubator to do all the work it needs to be spinning the eggs itself

[@DanielleRenollet]

How much water do you actually end up adding at lock down?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

about a cup

[@DanielleRenollet]

Thank you. I just bought this incubator and was going to try hatching some eggs but I wasn't sure how much to add since I wasn't planning to use the bottle.

[@thevaughnhomestead]

@@DanielleRenollet no problem at all, good luck with your eggs.... please give me an update when they hatch

[@DanielleRenollet]

@@thevaughnhomestead Can do

[@gmanguss1665]

Man... this was really great info!

[@nicoleschneider5797]

We jist got this incubator and having a difficult time understanding the temperature settings. Do you use the Styrofoam casing that came with it?

[@thevaughnhomestead]

thanks

[@thevaughnhomestead]

@@nicoleschneider5797 if its like mine and reading Celsius it needs to read 38 degrees, and if the room your keeping it in is cooler like my room does I throw a shirt over it and it does great