Mini Cocks Egg Incubator — Installation, Operation and Maintenance
The Mini Cocks incubator is designed for simple operation. However, successful egg incubation requires suitable environmental conditions, healthy fertilized eggs and careful daily monitoring.
This English guide is translated from the 12-page Mini Cocks operating manual supplied by CocksMachine.
It covers egg preparation, manual turning, temperature monitoring, the water reservoir, hatching procedures and routine operating precautions.
Mini Cocks — Main Technical and Operating Specifications
The following information is taken from the original Mini Cocks manual.
Important model distinction: Mini Cocks uses a manually operated egg-turning lever.
Turn the lever twice per day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Do not assume the machine turns the eggs automatically.
General Operating Conditions
- Run the incubator for one or two days before placing eggs inside to confirm that its components are operating correctly.
- If you do not have sufficient incubation experience, begin with inexpensive eggs rather than valuable eggs.
- Do not place the incubator outdoors, under direct sunlight or in an area exposed to wind.
- Keep the room temperature between 23°C and 27°C. The manual warns that unsuitable ambient temperatures can reduce hatching performance.
- Avoid placing the incubator directly in front of heating or air-conditioning airflow.
- Do not use the incubator in enclosed spaces without sufficient ventilation.
- Never block the ventilation channel on the incubator lid.
- Maintain the recommended room relative humidity of 50–55%.
- Avoid room-temperature fluctuations greater than 4°C.
- Monitor daytime and nighttime temperature differences.
Ventilation warning: Always keep the air opening on the incubator lid clear.
Factory settings: The incubator is adjusted at the factory. Do not change its settings unnecessarily.
Three Factors Affecting Incubation Success
According to the original manual, incubation success depends on three main factors.
- The egg incubator
- The quality of the fertilized eggs
- The care and experience of the operator
Even with a properly functioning incubator, poor-quality eggs or incorrect operation can reduce hatching results.
Selecting and Storing Fertilized Eggs
- Do not use old eggs. The manual specifies a maximum storage period of 7 days, provided proper storage conditions are maintained.
- Do not store fertilized eggs in a refrigerator.
- Store fertilized eggs in a dark location at approximately 18°C and 55% relative humidity.
- Before placing eggs in the incubator, keep them for several hours in a warmer room of approximately 25°C to reduce temperature shock.
- Place eggs with their pointed ends facing downward.
- Do not wash the eggs. Clean them gently with a dry brush or toothbrush.
- Avoid very large, very small or abnormally shaped eggs.
Egg orientation: The pointed end should face downward when eggs are positioned in the turning system.
Understanding the Incubation Stages
The manual divides the incubation process into two stages: Setter and Hatching.
Setter Stage
During the setter stage, the eggs remain on the turning mechanism while embryos develop.
For chicken eggs, the setter stage lasts approximately 18 days.
- Temperature stated in the incubation overview: 37.7°C.
- Relative humidity: 55–65%.
- The egg-turning lever must be operated manually during this stage.
Hatching Stage
During the hatching stage, embryos have developed and the eggs no longer need to be turned.
For chicken eggs, the manual describes a three-day hatching period.
The turning mechanism is removed and replaced with the hatching basket.
Egg Candling — Days 7 and 14
Egg candling is used to check whether the eggs are fertilized and whether embryos are developing.
The manual instructs operators to candle eggs on the 7th and 14th days.
Precautions During Candling
- Candle eggs in a dark room.
- Keep the room warm to reduce the risk of temperature shock.
- Avoid shaking the eggs strongly.
- Complete candling as quickly as possible.
- Remove transparent eggs showing no signs of embryo development, as instructed in the manual.
Candling on Day 7
On the seventh day, developing eggs should show dark lines corresponding to blood vessels.
Candling on Day 14
By the fourteenth day, approximately two-thirds of the interior of a developing egg should appear dark.
If the egg remains completely transparent, the manual considers this an indication that embryo development has not occurred.
Infertile eggs: The manual instructs operators to remove transparent, infertile eggs to reduce the risk of contaminating other eggs.
After each incubation cycle, the manual recommends examining unhatched eggs to investigate the reasons for failure.
It also states that eggs still containing unchanged yolk and albumen after 21 days were not fertilized. This is the wording of the original manual.
Mini Cocks — Main Components
1. ABS Machine Body
The Mini Cocks body is made of ABS, according to the original manual.
2. Digital Temperature Controller
The incubator uses a digital thermostat with a resolution of 0.1°C.
Do not alter the factory settings. The thermostat has been adjusted before delivery.
3. Air Circulation Fan
The fan must operate continuously. Check its performance every day and make sure the speed has not decreased.
If the fan needs to be replaced, install the replacement so that air blows upward, as specified in the manual.
4. Heating Element
The Mini Cocks incubator contains a heating element that works with the temperature-control system.
5. Power Adapter
The adapter specified in the manual is 12 volts, 2 amperes.
6. Humidity Indicator
The Mini Cocks manual shows a humidity gauge. The normal humidity range is indicated in green.
Humidity monitoring: Use the indicator to monitor humidity while maintaining the incubation conditions described in this manual.
7. Egg Candler
The egg candler is used to inspect embryo development on days 7 and 14.
8. Water Reservoir and Sponge
The water reservoir contains a sponge that helps increase humidity.
The manual describes a special container for adding water without removing the turning mechanism.
Add water approximately every three days.
Water refilling: Use the filling arrangement supplied with the Mini Cocks incubator. The turning mechanism does not need to be removed just to add water.
9. Hatching Basket
The hatching basket is used only during the final three days of chicken incubation.
Once the turning mechanism has been removed, place the hatching basket in its position and arrange the eggs carefully on it.
Manual Egg Turning — Morning and Afternoon
Mini Cocks requires manual egg turning.
Operate the turning lever twice each day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
- Locate the egg-turning lever on the machine.
- Turn the lever to the left or right, following the mechanism's movement.
- Repeat the operation once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
- Continue during the setter stage.
- Stop egg turning when the eggs are transferred to the hatching basket.
Motor movement: The manual also notes that the movement of a motor may not be visible to the eye and describes checking for warmth and vibration.
This statement is preserved from the source manual; it does not replace the explicit instruction to operate the Mini's turning lever manually twice daily.
Step-by-Step Installation and Startup
Follow these instructions before beginning an incubation cycle.
- Add water to the reservoir.
- Connect the wire to the incubator body, as shown in the original manual.
- Connect the 12V / 2A adapter to the incubator.
- Connect the adapter to the electrical supply.
- Run the machine for one full day before loading eggs.
- Confirm that the fan operates properly.
- Confirm that the thermostat is on.
- Place the eggs on the turning mechanism with their pointed ends facing downward.
- Close the incubator lid fully and check that air is not leaking through the corners.
Do not change the factory settings. The device has already been configured.
Operating conditions given in the startup section:
- Internal temperature: 37.5–37.7°C.
- Relative humidity: 55–65%.
Daily Operation During the Setter Stage
- Check that the fan is operating continuously.
- Confirm that the thermostat is on and working properly.
- Turn the egg-turning lever twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
- Check the water reservoir regularly.
- Add water approximately every three days.
- Maintain the recommended internal temperature and relative humidity.
- Keep the lid ventilation opening clear.
- Perform egg candling on days 7 and 14.
- Check that the lid remains correctly closed during operation.
Hatching Procedure — Day 18 for Chicken Eggs
The original manual describes the transfer to the hatching stage on day 18 for chicken eggs.
- Remove the egg-turning mechanism from the incubator.
- Add sufficient water to the reservoir to avoid the need to open the lid for refilling during the following days.
- Place the hatching basket over the water reservoir.
- Transfer the eggs gently to the hatching basket, avoiding shaking.
- Perform the transfer in a warm room to avoid temperature shock to the embryos.
- Close the lid and reconnect the incubator to the power supply, as described in the manual.
- Avoid opening the incubator during the final three days, except in emergencies.
Hatching warning: Do not open the lid unnecessarily during the final three days, particularly after chicks have started to hatch.
Removing Newly Hatched Chicks
The original manual describes opening the incubator on the second and fourth days of the hatching period to remove chicks.
Source timing note: The same manual also describes the standard chicken hatching stage as three days and advises against opening the lid during the final three days except in emergencies.
These statements are reproduced from the original source without silently resolving the difference. Confirm the appropriate chick-removal schedule before relying on it.
Humidity During Hatching
The manual states that humidity may rise when chicks emerge from their eggs and describes this as normal.
Extended Hatching Period
The manual mentions that some chicks may continue hatching until day 25.
Drying Newly Hatched Chicks
According to the source, chicks may remain inside the incubator for up to 48 hours while drying.
During this period, they use nutrients from their remaining yolk reserves.
Cleaning and Maintenance
- Do not clean the incubator using chemical cleaning products, according to the manual.
- Check the fan regularly.
- If a replacement fan is installed, make sure it blows upward as described in the manual.
- Keep the ventilation opening on the lid unobstructed.
- Keep the water reservoir and filling arrangement in suitable working condition.
- Confirm correct operation of the thermostat before beginning a new incubation cycle.
- Do not make unnecessary changes to the factory settings.
Incubation Periods for Different Bird Species
The following figures are taken from the table in the original Mini Cocks user manual.
| Bird Species | Incubation Period (Days) |
|---|---|
| Chicken | 21 |
| Peacock | 28 |
| Ostrich | 42 |
| Goose | 28–31 |
| Swan | 30 |
| Pigeon | 16–18 |
| Pheasant | 20–24 |
| Quail | 17–18 |
| Partridge | 23–25 |
Species-specific incubation: Different bird species have different incubation periods. The instructions for day 18 transfer and a three-day hatching stage refer specifically to chicken eggs.
Mini Cocks — Final Operating Checklist
Before starting a new incubation cycle, confirm the following:
- Room temperature is within the recommended 23–27°C range.
- Room ventilation and humidity are suitable.
- The incubator has been tested for at least one day.
- The 12V / 2A adapter is correctly connected.
- The fan operates correctly.
- The digital thermostat works normally.
- Water has been added to the reservoir.
- The turning mechanism and manual lever are accessible.
- Eggs are placed with their pointed ends downward.
- Manual turning is scheduled twice daily.
- Candling is planned for days 7 and 14.
- The hatching basket is available for day 18.
- The lid closes securely and the ventilation opening remains clear.
CocksMachine — Mini Cocks Egg Incubator User Guide