Questions farmers ask us

Work from the number of chicks you want per batch, not the size of your flock. Not every fertile egg hatches, so plan to set roughly a quarter to a third more eggs than the chicks you want. If you want 100 chicks, plan on setting about 130 eggs. That points to a 128 or 136-egg machine.

For a first machine, buy the size you can fill with fresh eggs every cycle. If your business is growing, go one step up. The incubator finder on the home page suggests a size from your batch number.

An AC/DC incubator runs on mains power and switches to a 12V DC supply, such as a battery or a solar panel, when the power drops. A blackout does not interrupt the hatch. A plain AC model is cheaper and fine where power is stable. Each product on the Products page lists its power option, and we will tell you honestly whether you need dual power for your location.

Not with our automatic incubators. A small motor turns the eggs on a timer. You only need to check the water and the temperature. Turning stops a few days before hatching (day 18 for chicken eggs), when the eggs go into hatching baskets.

Yes. Capacities are quoted in chicken eggs, so duck, turkey, goose or quail eggs fit in different numbers and need different settings and timings. Tell us which birds you keep and we will advise on the right machine.

Every model has an open price on the Products page, and a few items are marked price on request. We do not hide prices behind a call-us-to-find-out. The list is updated regularly, so call to confirm before you travel.

Chicken eggs take 21 days. Ducks take about 28 days (Muscovy ducks up to 35). Quail take about 17 to 18 days.

For chicken eggs in a forced-air incubator, about 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 F) throughout. Humidity is usually around 50 to 55 percent for the first 18 days and raised to 65 to 70 percent for the last three days, when the chicks start to hatch. Settings vary slightly by model, so follow the setup we go through with you when you buy.

Set eggs within 7 days of laying. Store them pointed end down at roughly 13 to 16 degrees Celsius until you set them. Older eggs hatch noticeably worse, however good the machine is.

Many farmers see 80 percent or more of fertile eggs hatch when the eggs are fresh and the settings are right. We do not promise a figure, because egg quality, flock health and handling matter as much as the machine. Our blog post on common hatching mistakes covers the seven causes we see most.

Candling around day 7 to 10 lets you remove clear (infertile) eggs and any that stopped developing. A second check around day 18 shows the eggs that will hatch before you move them to the hatching baskets.

With an AC/DC incubator, nothing changes. The machine switches to its 12V battery or solar supply and keeps turning and heating. With a plain AC model the machine stops, and a long outage near hatch time can lower the hatch rate or lose the batch.

It depends on the machine and on the battery's capacity. A bigger battery runs longer, and a solar panel keeps it topped up in the day. Tell us your incubator and your battery and we will estimate for you. We also sell 1kW and 2kW power back-up units, listed under Farm Equipment on the Products page.

Yes. We repair what we sell: sensor faults, turning motor and limit switch problems, controller and heating faults. You can bring the machine in, or call us and describe what it is doing. Many faults can be narrowed down over the phone. Most common repairs are done the same week.

Controllers, temperature and humidity sensors, turning motors, limit switches, heating elements, distribution fans, setter trays and hatching baskets. See photos and prices on the Repairs and Spares page. Bring the old part or send a photo so we match it exactly.

Yes, we offer instalment plans on selected machines. The terms depend on the machine and the deposit, so call or visit a branch for the current terms.

Delivery can be arranged. The cost depends on where you are, so call us with your location and the model you want and we will give you a delivery figure.

At our Kariobangi head office on Outer Ring Road, Nairobi, or at our Kenol Farm branch in Murang'a County. Both are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00am to 6:00pm. Call ahead so we can confirm the model you want to see is available.