What to use to sanitize incubator?

[Scott P]

Hi everyone, It's been awhile since I've been here and I thought I'd ask a quick question. What does everyone use to sanitize their incubators before the start of the hatching season, and in between hatches? In my case, I'm hatching calls.
Thanks,
Scott

[Hummer]

I still use the old standby Tek-trol in the incubators and hatchers. I use the liquid that you mix up but there is an aerosol available that some people prefer because it doesn't smell quite as bad. I have also used Oxine in the past as well and had good results with that. I use Tek-trol on the waterfowl eggs religiously ( I am much more lax and the chicken and turkey eggs). After I bring the waterfowl eggs in they are washed and I have a large sprayer of Tek-trol handle to spritz the eggs in the trays. I also have a small travel size spritzer fill with Tek-trol in the incubators so that every time I handle the waterfowl eggs between candlings they are spritzed with a mild Tek-trol solution. After each hatch I clean out the inside of the hatcher and then spritz it with Tek-trol to be waiting for the next hatch.

Hope it helps,

Hummer

[Evy]

Scott,
I agree with Steve but you may have to order it. I was told last year that NY won't sell it anymore. (Typical when you find something that works well ! :evil: ) I got it from Smiths catalog.

[Scott P]

Thanks for the help and advice. I'll look into ordering some, then. After a couple years off, I'm hoping to get a few calls out this year.

[Evy]

Thanks for the help and advice. I'll look into ordering some, then. After a couple years off, I'm hoping to get a few calls out this year.

Glad to see you back. You had some nice ones.

[Scott P]

Glad to see you back. You had some nice ones.

Thanks :D . I gave all but a trio away when I went to school, kind of regretting giving my best ones away though. :? Something to work back up towards, though. The challenge is the most rewarding part.

[denrful]

I have had great success with Oxine as well......just a few drops in a bucket of warm water and wipe down the inside of the incubator. I also dip all eggs into a solution of this with warm water when they are set, then a few drops go into the spray bottle which is kept inside of the incubator for the misting of eggs.

[KC'S]

This is only the second year incubating for me but I just use antibacterial dish soap.

[Evy]

This is only the second year incubating for me but I just use antibacterial dish soap.

Let us know how that goes. I'd be afraid of the soap & perfumes in it.

[KC'S]

I’m so happy! My goose babies are hatching! Eight are out of their shells and thirteen more have the peep hole.

One died that was half way out of the shell last night. I can’t believe he made it that far just to give up. And only one doesn’t look like he will make it at all. The air sac looks smaller then the others and I don’t see any movement anymore. I did get rid of six in the first week that showed no development or had blood rings.

I must say I did better then the moms that are sitting. They started about a week before me and still nothing has hatched.

I was always afraid to hatch geese having heard that it is very hard. I have one more bator to go and they should hatch next week. I’m so excited!

[azduckranch]

Thank you for this information. After reading this I just received both Oxine and Tek-Trol and converted my stinkubator back to an incubator. I have a question about Oxine. The directions say to activate it with activator or food grade citric acid. Is this necessary? I didn't see any activator listed in the Smith's catalogue.

[goosedragon]

You don't need to activate Oxine. That feature is used if you are trying to sanitize a huge growout house. You should have coveralls and a respirator on before activation. That is the reason that most of the Hobby suppliers don't carry the activator -for professional use only so to speak, to many libility issues for the suppliers.