Incubators … Brooders & Intensive Care Units
Useful Information: Breeders’ Resources (covers everything from handfeeding to potential breeding / chick problems) … Incubation Information (html) … Information on Housing Chicks, Temperature Requirements, etc.
Applicable to all Octagons:
Egg-turning: There are times when units are not used for egg incubation, but for laboratory purposes. If this is so, the egg-turning feature isn’t a needed feature. The rocker is an independent unit and it can be unplugged at any time; or the incubator can be used without it – if no turning is necessary. The egg tray is also removable and can be used without the adjustable dividers.
Controllable ranges of temperature and humidity: Temperature can be set between 20C and 40C (68F and 104F) and Humidity between 20% and 80% relative humidity. Obviously if the incubator were to be set lower than the ambient temperature or humidity the incubator cannot take away heat nor moisture from the air.
Full function, reliable, versatile incubator widely used for all kinds of species the Octagon 20 Digital incubator is the solution to the incubation of small numbers of eggs, providing the control and reliability to ensure top hatch rates, time after time.
The combination of unbeatable temperature stability, reliability and useful capacity has made the Octagon 20 Digital popular with breeders of a wide range of species and is Brinsea’s best selling incubator. Capable of hatching 60 quail, 24 hen or 12 goose eggs and equally good with parrots and birds of prey. Available with either semi or fully automatic egg turning (with Brinsea’s unique Autoturn Cradle). The Omnitherm™ heating system and excellent thermal properties of the cabinet ensure the best possible conditions for egg incubation.
The standard Octagon 20 Digital forms the basis of two more advanced incubator packages – the Octagon 20 Plus and Octagon Pro-20 – with additional features for breeders of valuable or exotic eggs.
The Octagon 20 MkIII, introduced in 1995, has set the standard for small, forced draught incubators and has been enthusiastically received by smallholders, breeders, zoos and conservationists. The MkIII has now evolved into the Octagon 20 Digital, providing at-a-glance confirmation of temperature from a purpose built, highly accurate digital thermometer.
The new Digital model also features a clearer, tougher top for better visibility and improved proportional electronic temperature control. Like all Brinsea incubators the Octagon 20 fully adjustable for all sizes of egg from budgerigars to geese and offer the flexibility of optional temperature alarm, wet bulb thermometer (for measuring humidity) or fully automatic humidity management with the H22 Digital Humidity Management Module.
Temperature Control
Precise and consistent control of temperature is essential for good hatching results. Brinsea’s proven Omnitherm™ all round heating technology is a system of sealed, printed heater bars covering much of the clear top without significantly interfering with visibility. Omnitherm heaters are exceptionally responsive to control because of the low thermal inertia and low temperature rise. The clear top is double skinned, further improving temperature stability and operational efficiency. Adjustment to temperature can be made with a small screwdriver from outside the incubator. An indicator light shows the status of the control – whether the unit is warming up, stable or cooling. The electronic proportional thermostat is well protected against power surges or ‘spikes’ in the mains supply – a common cause of failure in other incubators.
Egg Turning
Egg turning is effected by rotating the whole cabinet through 90 degrees. This can be done manually by turning the incubator on its own three position base, or fully automatically, two turns per hour, when mounted in the Autoturn cradle. The incubator lifts easily in and out of the cradle – so it can stand horizontally for hatching. Goose or other large eggs are set lying down, small eggs can be set either horizontally or vertically. The egg dividers are adjustable in 5mm (3/16”) steps. There are no internal moving parts associated with the egg turning – so nothing to trap or injure emerging chicks if you forget to stop the turning.
A computer grade fan provides even air flow throughout the incubator and the level of fresh air drawn into the enclosure is controlled by a slider. Humidity is provided manually by water compartments moulded into the incubator base. The humidity level is controlled by the presence of water in different numbers of compartments and by the ventilation slider setting. Humidity can be checked directly with the purpose built wet bulb thermometer (optional). Alternatively, Brinsea’s fully automatic electronic H22 Digital Humidity Management Module (optional) can be hooked up to provide continuous, automatic controlled water supply and digital monitoring of humidity.
For complete peace of mind the optional T20 Temperature Alarm Module can be fitted to warn of power failure or high or low temperature.
More information on humidity requirements of eggs at their different stages of development.
Egg Capacity (Approx.)
Quail60120
Pheasant4080
Hen2448
Duck2040
Goose9/1218/24
Physical Data
DimensionsOctagon 20Octagon 40
Incubator only12.8″x9.3″x9.6″h24.4″x9.3″x9.6″h
With cradle16″x9.3″x11h28″x9.3″x11″h
Weight4.4lb
Cradle 2.2lb7.7lb
Cradle 3.3lb
Power Consumption
Typical Average45W (max) 25W75W (max) 38W
Electrical supply115v, 60Hz
(230v 50Hz) available as ordered115v, 60Hz
(230v 50Hz) available as ordered
Octagon 20 Advance – more information / technical notes
The Octagon 20 Plus incubation system is an ideal package for the serious breeder of parrots, birds of prey or any species requiring close monitoring of humidity as well as precise control of temperature – without the added cost of complete, automatic humidity control. Knowing what’s going on allows the operator to make the necessary changes to humidity to optimize egg weight loss and ensure good hatches.
Based on the proven Octagon 20 Digital incubator with all its standard features, the package also contains the following features and items:
- Special cushioned egg dividers and foam mat to isolate eggs from any chance of external vibration or jolting.
- Wet bulb thermometer kit
This clip-on accessory holds one glass thermometer to measure wet bulb temperature and a second (if fitted) to measure dry bulb temperature (incubator air temperature). A simple table is provided to convert the two readings to Relative Humidity.
- Spot-Check digital thermometer specially calibrated against a laboratory standard. The Spot-Check reads with an accuracy of 0.1° in either F or C and has a small probe on a flexible lead which can be inserted into the incubator and fixed at any point to monitor temperature right by your eggs. (This reading should take precedence in the event of any small difference with the inbuilt thermometer.)
Employing Omnitherm™ heater technology, the combination of unsurpassed control of temperature and humidity has made the Octagon 20 Plus a good choice for discriminating exotic bird breeders on a budget. With careful supervision the best results are achievable.
Like all Brinsea incubators the Octagon 20 Plus is fully adjustable for all sizes of egg from finches to eagles and turns eggs automatically twice per hour. (Additional periodic hand turning of altricial species is recommended once a day.)
The 20 Plus can be fitted with optional H22 Humidity Management Module to provide complete control and digital monitoring of humidity. For complete peace of mind, T20 Temperature Alarm Module to warn of power failure or high or low temperature can be fitted.
The Octagon Pro-20 incubation system is the ultimate package – for the serious breeder of parrots, birds of prey or any species requiring close automatic control of humidity as well as precise control of temperature – providing the control and reliability to ensure top hatch rates, time after time.
Based on the proven Octagon 20 Digital incubator with all its standard features, the package also contains the following features and items:
- Special cushioned egg dividers and foam mat to isolate eggs from any chance of external vibration or jolting.
- H22 Humidity Management Module with digital readout of % relative humidity. This unit senses the humidity in the egg chamber and pumps in the exact amount of water to constantly maintain the humidity level selected. The digital display confirms the achieved humidity level.
- Spot-Check digital thermometer specially calibrated against a laboratory standard. The Spot-Check reads with an accuracy of 0.1° in either F or C and has a small probe on a flexible lead which can be inserted into the incubator and fixed at any point to monitor temperature right by your eggs. (This reading should take precedence in the event of any small difference with the inbuilt thermometer.)
Employing Omnitherm™ heater technology, the combination of unsurpassed control of temperature and humidity has made the Octagon Pro-20 the preferred choice of discriminating exotic bird breeders throughout the world. Hatching performance consistently exceeds that of incubators costing several times the Pro-20 price.
Like all Brinsea incubators the Octagon Pro-20 is fully adjustable for all sizes of egg from finches to eagles and turns eggs automatically twice per hour. (Additional periodic hand turning of altricial species is recommended once a day.)
DimensionsOctagon 20 Advance
Incubator and Cradle16″x9.25″x11″h
Humidity Management Module6.75″x8″x4.25″h
Weight
Incubator and Cradle
Humidity Management Module
7lbs
2.2lbs
Power Consumption
Typical Average50W (max)
25W
HumidityAccuracy +/- 2%
Hysteresis 1.2%
Electrical supply115v, 60Hz
(230v 50Hz) available as ordered
Octagon 40 ECO or Advance Incubators
Full function, reliable, versatile incubator with twice the capacity of the Octagon 20.
The Octagon 40 is similar in all respects to the Octagon 20 but twice the length and twice the egg capacity, giving an economy in cost for larger breeders – providing the control and reliability to ensure top hatch rates, time after time.
Capable of hatching 120 quail, 48 hen or 24 goose eggs and equally good with parrots and birds of prey. Supplied for fully automatic egg turning with Brinsea’s unique Autoturn Cradle.
The Omnitherm heating system and excellent thermal properties of the cabinet ensure the best possible conditions for egg incubation.
Like all Brinsea incubators the Octagon 40 is fully adjustable for all sizes of egg from budgerigars to geese.
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