hova?

so i just got my hova-bator today from fedex and i need some help, it came with the reptile stuff i need but i also has the chicken stuff with it, my ? is do i just put the vermiculite right on the bottom and then the snake eggs in it and close it or do i need that wire screen and plastic liner in there somewhere too.

and yes i know to plug it in, set the temp and wet the vermiculite, just incase someone wanted to be cute:rolleyes: , thanks

its the normal one with the picture window too

I have a Huva set up, but got my hands on an Avey that I went with instead....But on the Huva I did put the tray in... w/ 6qt. shoe boxes that I put the vermiculite into... the shoe boxes have snap tight lids.. and from what everyone said, that's a good thing! :D Hope that helps!!!! :sunny: L

You'll want to have a seperate rubbermaid container (a flattish one) to put the substrate and eggs in, that will be sealed and placed into the incubator.. the eggs need high humidity, and the heating element and airholes of the incubator would have to dry it out too much to be able to just put them right in..

so put a contaner in there and close it with the eggs and vermiculite in it, do i put holes in it or leave it sealed

It fits! :D Actually, I think 2 will??? I only have 1 in there, ready for back up just in case!

You'll have to find a container that fits, last year i used a pie container and hatched 6 eggs.

If you got it from LLL, the vermiculite they sent didnt need to be moistened, it was perfect, i used the clump method.

The wire and tray go in the bottom, the tray first, then the wire, the tray is there to hold water for humidity. the wire is to keep the container off the water.

I myself need to get into the dollar store and find the right size; the 6-qts I have are too tall and would graze the heating element.. the other one that I used for rat snake eggs is only about 2 inches in height, too small...!

do you have a thermometer in the container and how often do you check the eggs, and with it sealed like that do the eggs not get enough air or do they even need it

so do you put water in the tray too, and what should the humidity be at

Humidity needs to be 100%
I put the thermometer probe in the middle of the eggs.
This year i just filled the bottom of the hova with vermiculite and put saran wrap across it to hold humidity, its still drying out quickly though.

Some people put holes, some dont, Most 6quarts will have loose fitting lids.
Some peple seal them tight with sran wrap to hold humity well.

The hovabators work great! mix the vermiculite 50/50 with water. you need to weight both the water and vermiculite. equal parts, if you use 200 grams of vermiculite use 200 grams of water.


Buy a good digital thermometer, pull one of the red plugs out of the top and insert the thermometer probe into the hole and replace the red plug. best to set temps at 88* good luck and hope this helps. :)

Does not hurt to put a couple deli cups filled with water in the incubator to help keep the humidity up. :)

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Originally Posted by SUPERBALLS

do you have a thermometer in the container and how often do you check the eggs, and with it sealed like that do the eggs not get enough air or do they even need it

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Why 88 ed? Ive always read 89, and hatched mine last year at 89

I've always incubated mine at 90 F. Maybe the hovabators' temps are actually a couple degrees higher than what its set at?

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

I've always incubated mine at 90 F. Maybe the hovabators' temps are actually a couple degrees higher than what its set at?

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Well you cant just set it, you have a dial knob, and you have to play with it for a while and get it close to the temp you need.
I use 2 thermometers to set mine, last year i had a laptop fan in mine too, which kept it the same temp everywhere.

Ah, alright. I use 2 refrigerators with a Helix on one, and a Ranco on the other for incubation. Never used a Hovabator before from what I know.

Good idea to set it on the low side because the temps will creep up on a warm day with the wafer type thermostats. 90* is proper python incubation temps, but when using the hovabators you need to protect against excessive temps. :)

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Originally Posted by jamesw

Why 88 ed? Ive always read 89, and hatched mine last year at 89

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Another option is putting a good thermostat on it and setting that at 90*. :)

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Originally Posted by jamesw

Why 88 ed? Ive always read 89, and hatched mine last year at 89

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All this incubating talk is getting me excited!!!! Who has that time machine handy??? :cool:

While we're on the subject....I haft to say that I had a glitch setting up a used Avey that I got my hands on.... I set it up the morning that one of my new additions laid in the pm... (long story) I thought I was ready, but the clutch didn't fit in the Deli cups that came with the incubator.... I called Ed in a panic, and he walked me through setting them up properly.... between Ed and Cue...& all the reading/great feedback on this forum I hopefully have 1 clutch "cooking" :) With 1-2 more on the way!?!? :eek:

*hugs to both* :sunny:

thanks everyone this was a lot of help:D

Incubating that first few clutches of eggs can be real scary, its really very simple...Temperature and humidity. :)


Any other questions, fire away. always glad to help. :D

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Originally Posted by SUPERBALLS

thanks everyone this was a lot of help:D

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