AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

In my limited eBay searches in recent weeks, the mob up at Brookfield have an incubator that could do the trick while you are only getting about a dozen eggs at a time.

I saw a second hand one for a similar price.

Having built one, I can't justify buying a real one when I don't know how good my home-built one is yet.

righto then..


What do you think a fair price is for a 2nd hand one??

Depends which type you're after. You can pick the little polystyrine ones up for about $200 new i think. I bought a 2nd hand 60 egg Hoverbator as a spare bator with 4 dozen eggs for $150. Still ironing out the kinks with this one

If i were you though, i'd be looking around for a Smart incubator. They come in single tray up to about 10 with 80 eggs on each tray. It would have to be the most fool proof bator around i reckon and for me that comes in handy

Good info

I'll look around an see what i can come up with...

OK so my RCOM 20 was delivered today YIPEE

I have read the manual

I am none the wiser. i think it was in English still trying to work that one out. It read like double dutch to me. Boy am I stupid I have no idea Maybe this was not such a good idea

What should the temp be to incubate eggs We don't seem to have that in the manual and what if the calibration is not right I guess I will have to reset it. Again after it has been on for one hour.

Is it the same temp for bantam eggs and large eggs

Same with humidity:- What should that be I got a hygrometer to check to make sure the machine was correct when I set it up and have had it on for one hour.

There may be better suggestions form others, but here are a couple of mine.

Due to capacity and other factors, incubators often have varying operating temperatures etc. But, based on my readings in past days and weeks, temperature is likely to be around 38 on top of the eggs, perhaps more. Bantam and large eggs are the same temp.

Humidity should be about 60% until day 18, then pumped up as high as you can get it from day 19 during the hatching period. Your incoubator may be different.

Do a Google Search for RCOM 20. I did and found some helpful info. Almost enough to make me consider getting one. One with the PC Support would be really good.

Bellsouth has a lengthy page on the RCOM 20.

What about http://www.brinsea.com/products/rcom20.htm

Looks like you should have got the RCOM Pro-20. It has: "Automatic mode which allows the user to simply select the species being incubated, add water and leave the incubator to select the correct conditions. The incubator will cease turning eggs two days before hatching and will indicate the number of days remaining until hatch. Additional species settings are being continuously researched and the incubator can be updated with the latest settings with a simple internet download."

You could also try to Product Leaflet.
http://www.brinsea.co.uk/pdffiles/RCom20_UK_web.pdf

A quick scroll through all these was all I did, but I didn't find the specific information you were after.

Thanks Greenaus. I got the Bellsouth RCOM 20.

My main problem is that is shows the humidity inside the incubator on my hygrometer after one hour on as 65% but the panel on the incubator states 45%. It looks like I may have to recalibrate it.

Gee, I really hope someone can answer that one for you.

I have been trying to keep my humidity at around 60% on the hygrometer display of my indoor/outdoor gizmo. I've managed to do that successfully.

I'd be disappointed to find that I was measuring it in the wrong place and had it been a store-bought incubator it was really only about 45%.

I wish i could help but the humidy is controled in my incubator simply by keeping water in the tray at the bottom of bator.

Based on what I read, the RCOM 20 is reasonably automatic in its operation. Buttons to push for settings and stuff like that.

I'm only guessing, but I suspect that putting water in the required tray/tub or whatever and pushing a few buttons should result in the correct humidity being maintained.

Good luck with it.