Best practices when getting a new incubator/brooder

Congratulations on getting a new tool to make your life easier!

Here are the best practices that we have found to increase the chances of a successful time. We recommend these instructions for any incubator/brooder, not just the ones we sell. 

Preparation and Setup

1. Inspect your new machine as soon as you get it! Shipping couriers don't know there is a delicate incubator/brooder inside the box they are carrying so they're not always nice to packages. Our mail is mostly handled on conveyor belts and on machines. It's important to make sure nothing is damaged, misplaced or awry before plugging in your new machine. 
2. Plug in and make sure it powers on. 
3. Set temperature and humidity to the value you are planning on using. You don't have to set up everything your new machine is capable of, but it's important that it keeps temperature and humidity accurately right out of the box. Make sure it's running for a few days(2-3 days) before you put animals/eggs inside. We've found, through some trial and error, that most machines require a little fine tuning before they are fit for a new clutch of eggs/litter of animals. Leaving your new machine running for 2-3 days makes you aware of any problems before you have expensive eggs or animals inside the machine. If you have a trusted thermometer, this would be the time to test the accuracy of your new incubator/brooder and make sure it's up to par. A little discrepancy is okay but too much and there needs to be a recalibration of the sensor. For incubators any discrepancy larger than 0.50 - 0.75F needs to be addressed. For brooders, any discrepancy larger than 0.75F - 1.5F. Eggs are more delicate than live animals hence they shouldn't be in an environment that is incorrect for their development. 
4. Clean the incubator/brooder. Sanitizing all parts before placing eggs/animals inside prevents bacteria from impacting the hatch/animals. 

Optimal Temperature and Humidity

• Temperature -
• Most bird eggs require around 99.5F(37.5C). Small deviations from this temperature can impact the embryo development and should be addressed. 
• During the first four days of a puppy's life, an environment of 85F-90F is recommended. This temperature can be lowered gradually by the seventh to tenth day to 80F and to 72F by the end of the fourth week. If the litter is large or the room is warm, the temperatures don't need to be as high. Our Pet Brooders always warm slowly over 30-60 minutes as rewarming a puppy with a low body temperature too quickly can result in serious complications. 
• Humidity -
• Most bird eggs require a humidity level between 45-55% during incubation and then higher humidity closer to hatching 60-70% 
• For animals, this depends on species, size, amount of animals inside and respiratory condition. As long as your animals are comfortable and aren't suffering from respiratory ailment, a humidity of 50% is acceptable. This may be an important question for your veterinarian.