Incubation specialist, Brinsea, reveals its top incubator preparation tips for a successful hatching season…
You are expecting the first eggs to be laid any day and you dust off your incubator from last year but before you are ready to set the new season’s eggs follow the steps below to avoid some common problems:
Find the instructions for your incubator (if you have a Brinsea incubator you can download them free from www.brinsea.co.uk or www.brinsea.com) and read them carefully. Even experienced breeders should familiarise themselves with the instructions to check some of the less obvious issues – for example, ensuring the incubator sits level, as a tilt may affect temperature control in some models.
BEFORE PLUGGING IN…
Clean your incubator thoroughly. As incubators are warm and wet they are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and if they have been left with debris from the last hatch of last year they will harbour germs which are highly likely to damage your next hatch. After removing any old shells, fluff and dirt, it is best to soak non-electrical parts like egg trays in a disinfectant solution that is alcohol-free for an hour before scrubbing clean.
Do not use the dishwasher! Clean around heaters and fans with a brush or slightly damp cloth using the same disinfectant solution. Be very careful not to let water get near any electrical parts including motors, heaters and control housings.
Use Brinsea Incubation Disinfectant which is both powerful and safe and has been specially formulated to kill bacteria and fungi associated with birds and is available online from www.brinsea.co.uk. If this is not available in your country please use a disinfectant which is alcohol-free. Disinfectant should be thoroughly rinsed off.
Leave the incubator parts to dry thoroughly. If they are properly clean they should no longer have a strong odour.
Replace the silicone tubing or evaporating paper/blocks (depending on model). If dirty these can harbour bacteria and may not evaporate water properly.
Check for rodent damage. Incubators stored in garages, sheds and barns can attract vermin. In particular check that cables and covers of electrical parts haven’t been nibbled. If there is any damage your incubator may not be safe to use, you can contact Brinsea for further advice.
If your incubator has a glass thermometer (Brinsea modelsTLC-30 Eco, Mini II Eco, and Maxi II Eco all do), you should check for air bubbles or splits in the liquid. This will cause an inaccurate temperature reading. Brinsea can help with tips on how to repair the thermometer for their models, or you can purchase another one from our website.
If your incubator thermometer has been broken, please don’t be tempted to replace it with a general purpose one. Brinsea Incubation thermometers are specially designed with a very narrow but accurate temperature range and replacements are available from www.brinsea.co.uk or brinsea.com.
If other parts have been damaged or smaller parts like egg dividers have been lost then you can contact Brinsea where many parts for older models are stocked.
PLUG IN!
Ideally, run your incubator for 24 hours before setting eggs and monitor the temperature. Ensure the correct set temperature (see instructions) is reachedfor at least an hour before setting eggs.
Check that the temperature control indicator is working correctly, for Brinsea models, this is either a red light or * on the digital display next to the temperature which should flash on and off indicating that the controlled temperature has been reached.
Check that all of the settings are ideal for the eggs you are hatching, including turning. Observe that the turner is working, which you can do by waiting for it to turn, or by pressing the ‘OK’ and minus buttons at the same time to force a turn.
Next, check the fan is spinning by observation – please do not use your fingers!!
Check the humidity reading (where applicable). If using a wet bulb thermometer check that the wick is clean and the reservoir is topped up with water. With digital systems check that the reading is sensible (in a cold incubator this will be between 30 and 90%). If your incubator is fitted with a humidity control pump change the short length of silicone tubing around the pump head as this part wears out and can become stuck together internally. This may need to be replaced.
If you notice anything unusual about your incubator or if you aren’t sure that the temperature or humidity is accurate, give the manufacturer’s helpline a call.
The Brinsea service department can help troubleshoot any issues you may be having with their incubators, and you can always send your unit in to be calibrated if necessary.
Spares and accessories for Brinsea incubators are available from your local distributor or available online from www.brinsea.co.uk or www.brinsea.com
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Children looking at the OvaScope. Credit Ant Photography
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This article appears in the 2025 edition of The Country Smallholder. You can buy the full issue here.
