Twin Cocks Egg Incubator — Installation, Operation and Maintenance
The Twin Cocks incubator has two egg-turning levels, digital temperature control, battery connection capability and a water reservoir designed to maintain suitable incubation humidity.
This guide is professionally translated from the supplied 12-page manual, which explicitly describes the Twin Cocks incubator.
Read the instructions carefully before operating the incubator or loading fertilized eggs.
Twin Incubator — Technical and Operating Specifications
Important Twin-specific instruction: On days 7 and 14, after egg candling, exchange the positions of eggs from the upper and lower turning levels.
General Safety and Operating Conditions
- Run the incubator without eggs for one or two days to confirm that all components work correctly.
- Begin with inexpensive eggs if you have limited incubation experience.
- Do not operate the machine outdoors, in direct sunlight or in an area exposed to wind.
- Maintain the room temperature between 23°C and 27°C.
- Avoid direct hot or cold air from heating or air-conditioning systems.
- Do not operate the incubator in a room with poor ventilation.
- Keep the lower fresh-air inlets open. Do not place the machine on a carpet or floor covering that blocks these openings.
- Never block the ventilation opening on the incubator door.
- Maintain the recommended room humidity of 50–55%.
- Avoid room-temperature fluctuations greater than 4°C.
- Monitor daytime and nighttime temperature variations.
- Do not interfere with the incubator's electronic systems.
- Never clean the incubator with chemical cleaning products, as instructed in the source manual.
The fan must run continuously during incubation. Inspect it daily and make sure its speed has not decreased.
Factory calibration: The manual states that if settings are altered, the machine must be returned to the factory for recalibration.
Three Factors Affecting Incubation Success
The source identifies three factors:
- The incubator.
- The fertilized eggs.
- The operator.
Fresh, healthy eggs and careful operation are essential for achieving satisfactory results.
Preparing Fertilized Eggs
- Use fresh eggs. The maximum recommended storage period is 7 days, under appropriate storage conditions.
- Do not keep fertilized eggs in a refrigerator.
- The source recommends storage at 18°C and 55% relative humidity in a dark place.
- Before loading eggs, keep them for several hours at approximately 25°C to reduce thermal shock.
- Place eggs with their pointed ends downward.
- Do not wash eggs; gently clean them with a dry brush or toothbrush.
- Do not use unusually large, small or misshapen eggs.
Understanding the Incubation Stages
Setter Stage
During the setter stage, the embryo develops inside the egg while the egg remains in the turning mechanism.
- Chicken setter stage: 18 days.
- Temperature specified in the incubation overview: 37.7°C.
- Relative humidity: 55–65%.
- The turning mechanisms remain in use throughout the setter stage.
Hatching Stage
In the hatching stage, the eggs no longer need to be turned. They are moved from the turning mechanisms to the hatching baskets.
The source describes the chicken hatching stage as approximately three days.
Do not open the incubator unnecessarily during the final three days, particularly after the first chicks begin to hatch.
Egg Candling and Swapping the Two Levels
Egg candling is required on the 7th and 14th days according to the original manual.
How to Perform Candling
- Carry out candling in a dark room.
- Keep the room warm to prevent temperature shock.
- Avoid shaking or sudden movement of the eggs.
- Complete the inspection as quickly as practical.
- Look for blood vessels on day 7.
- By day 14, approximately two-thirds of a developing egg should appear dark.
- Identify transparent eggs with no visible development as described in the manual.
Special Twin Procedure — Days 7 and 14
After candling, exchange eggs between the first and second levels.
Move the eggs that were on the lower level to the upper level, and move the eggs from the upper level to the lower level.
Perform the transfer carefully, without shaking or damaging the eggs.
The original manual specifically calls for this level exchange on both the seventh and fourteenth days.
Twin Incubator — Main Components
1. Body and Insulation
The machine body is constructed from PVC with a 3 cm foam insulation layer.
2. Digital Thermostat
The incubator uses a thermostat with a temperature resolution of 0.1°C.
Do not alter the factory settings. The manual specifies that a machine with modified settings must be sent to the factory for recalibration.
3. Ventilation Fan
The fan must operate continuously. Check it every day and make sure its speed has not decreased.
4. Power Adapter and Battery Clamps
The Twin Cocks incubator can be powered using a suitable vehicle battery during an electricity outage, according to the original manual.
- Use the supplied battery-connection arrangement.
- Follow the correct positive (+) and negative (−) polarity.
- Do not interchange the battery connections.
- Keep the fan operating and avoid a drop in internal temperature during power outages.
Electrical safety: Follow the original manufacturer's connection instructions. The manual does not specify a battery voltage or adapter current rating in the extracted text, so these values are not assumed here.
5. Egg Candler
The egg candler is used to inspect eggs on days 7 and 14.
6. Automatic Egg Turning Mechanisms
The incubator has two separate egg-turning levels and three types of egg cups for different bird species.
The turning motors move slowly, so their movement may not be visible to the naked eye. The manual instructs users to check for warmth and vibration at the motor to confirm operation.
Upper and lower turning mechanisms are different.
The manual identifies the upper mechanism by protrusions at its four corners. Make sure each turning mechanism is installed in its correct position.
7. Motor Connections
Connect the plugs for both turning motors to the appropriate digital connection area on the incubator door.
Connection orientation: Observe the correct plug orientation when connecting or disconnecting the motors. Do not pull on the indicator components or damage the connectors.
8. Multi-Channel Water Reservoir
The reservoir includes several water channels for humidity control.
- Start by adding water only to the central channel.
- Check humidity after approximately two hours.
- If humidity remains insufficient, add water to another channel.
- Refill approximately every three days.
The manual also describes a special water-filling container, allowing water to be added without removing the egg-turning mechanism.
9. Hatching Baskets
Use the hatching baskets only during the final three days of chicken incubation.
Do not leave the hatching basket over the water reservoir during the early setter period. The manual states that this can prevent the humidity from increasing sufficiently.
The upper hatching basket is larger than the lower basket. Install each basket in its correct position.
Step-by-Step Installation and Startup
- Place the water reservoir inside the incubator.
- Add water to the central channel of the reservoir.
- Install the lower and upper egg-turning mechanisms in their correct positions.
- Connect both motor plugs to their designated connections on the digital section of the door.
- Check that each plug is correctly oriented and securely inserted.
- Connect the incubator to its appropriate electrical supply.
- Allow the machine to operate without eggs for at least one day.
- Confirm that the fan rotates properly.
- Check that the motor-connection indicator lights are illuminated.
- Confirm that the turning motors are operating, following the inspection method described in the manual.
- Verify that the thermostat and humidity monitoring are functioning.
- After the test period, load the eggs with their pointed ends facing downward.
- Close the incubator door securely and check that air is not entering around the corners.
Operating conditions stated in the startup section:
- Internal temperature: 37.5–37.7°C.
- Relative humidity: 55–65%.
Temperature and Humidity Alarm
The Twin incubator includes an alarm that operates until temperature and humidity reach their configured values.
To silence the alarm: Press and hold the minus (−) button for three seconds, according to the source manual.
Important: Silencing the alarm does not mean the required incubation temperature and humidity have been reached. Continue monitoring the controller readings.
Daily Operation During the Setter Stage
- Check the fan daily.
- Confirm that the automatic turning motors are functioning.
- Monitor temperature and humidity.
- Refill water approximately every three days.
- Keep the air inlets and lid ventilation channel open.
- Perform candling on days 7 and 14.
- On both candling days, exchange the positions of eggs between the two levels.
- Keep the incubator away from direct sunlight and strong hot or cold airflow.
- Keep the door properly closed.
Hatching Procedure — Day 18 for Chicken Eggs
The source manual instructs users to transfer chicken eggs to the hatching baskets on day 18.
- Remove the upper and lower egg-turning mechanisms.
- Add sufficient water to the reservoir so the door will not need to be opened for water refilling during the following days.
- Position the lower hatching basket above the water reservoir.
- Place the appropriate eggs gently into the lower hatching basket.
- Install the larger upper hatching basket in its intended position.
- Transfer the remaining eggs gently to the upper basket.
- Carry out the transfer in a warm room to avoid temperature shock.
- Close the incubator door and restart the machine as described in the original manual.
- Avoid opening the door during the final three days except in emergencies.
Hatching warning: Unnecessary door opening may disturb humidity and temperature and affect chicks still inside their eggs.
Removing Hatched Chicks
The source advises limiting door openings and mentions removing chicks on the second and fourth days of the hatching period.
Timing inconsistency in the source: The manual also describes the normal chicken hatching stage as three days and instructs users not to open the door during that period. The reference to a fourth hatching day is therefore not fully reconciled with the three-day schedule. Confirm the correct chick-removal timing before using this as an operating schedule.
Excess Humidity During Hatching
Humidity may rise as chicks hatch. The original manual instructs users to remove the plastic plug on the glass when necessary to release excess humidity.
Extended Hatching and Chick Drying
The manual states that hatching may continue until day 25 and that newly hatched chicks may remain inside for up to 48 hours while drying, using their remaining yolk reserves.
Cleaning and Maintenance
- Keep the fan working correctly and inspect it daily.
- Keep all ventilation openings clear.
- Clean the water reservoir between incubation cycles.
- Check the condition of the upper and lower turning mechanisms.
- Inspect motor connectors for secure attachment.
- Do not change factory-calibrated thermostat settings.
- Do not use chemical cleaning products, as instructed in the manual.
- Confirm correct operation of all components before beginning another cycle.
Incubation Periods for Different Bird Species
The following figures are reproduced from the final table of the supplied Persian Twin manual.
| Bird Species | Incubation Period |
|---|---|
| Chicken | 21 days |
| Peacock | 28 days |
| Ostrich | 42 days |
| Goose | 28–31 days |
| Swan | 30 days |
| Pigeon | 16–18 days |
| Pheasant | 20–24 days |
| Quail | 17–18 days |
| Partridge | 23–25 days |
Note: The day-18 transfer and three-day hatching procedure above refers to chicken eggs. Other bird species have different incubation periods.
Twin — Final Operating Checklist
- Room temperature and ventilation checked.
- Incubator tested before loading eggs.
- Upper and lower turning mechanisms correctly positioned.
- Both motor plugs correctly connected.
- Fan and digital thermostat functioning.
- Water added to the central reservoir channel.
- Humidity monitored and additional channels filled only if needed.
- Eggs placed pointed-end downward.
- Factory-calibrated settings preserved.
- Battery backup available and connections understood.
- Candling scheduled for days 7 and 14.
- Egg exchange between levels scheduled for days 7 and 14.
- Correct lower and upper hatching baskets available.
- Ventilation openings unobstructed.
CocksMachine — Twin Egg Incubator User Guide