Incubator sterilization

[eggy]

What is the best way to sterilize your incubator after a hatch? Is it very important to sterilize at all? I've heard bleach is best, but should it be full strength or diluted? Thanks in advance for your input.

-eggy

[gp]

and now do you clean it and not scrap the styrofoam of

[RedOakGamebirds]

There are several brand name top quality cleaners that are good for incubators.  Bleach is good to use because it sterilizes just about everything.  For styrofoam incubators we use a mixture of a good cleaner such as greased lightning as a cleaner and then afterward spray with a diluted mixture of water and bleach.  Greased lightning will take off any droppings that are on the incubator and it does not harm the styrofoam.  Let it stay on for about 5 minutes then spray off with a water hose.  After you clean the bottom you can spray it with a mild mixture of bleach and water and let it air dry in the sun for awhile.  If you clean your incubator thoroughly after each use then its fairly easy to keep clean.  You can also buy the plastic tray liners for the bottom.  They are a lifesaver when it comes to cleaning and they are reusable.  We have ours still in use for the past 15 years.  If it wears out over the course of time you can just buy another incubator bottom.  They run about $10 just for the bottom.  I'm speaking of GQF Hovabators so I'm not sure of Little Giant but you should be able to buy accessories for them as well.  


Larry