leoniejane could you repost the link to your incubator its not going through. I'm very eager to see it as i also don't want to do a lot of wiring and such. I was thinking of making one from a styrofoam cooler what is the consensus on this? good or bad idea?
Many great ideas, and yes, hatch rate would be a good idea. Is there any one manufactured lower pirced incubatorthat consistantly has a high hatch rate ?
i have made a incubator from a food warming cabnet about 400 eggs fit in it the hardest thimg i found was trying to keep the temp where it should be for all u having the same problem i think i found something i got one of these after seing a 4deg temp swing and this little beast is working like a champ http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/RANCO-Electronic-Temperature-Control-3ZP77?Pid=search
We just built an incubator this morning have it running to see how it performs. I have a very accurate temperature control unit my Brother in law gave me so it is working great. Right now it is wired to only turn on the fan when the heat bulb is on. Turns off at 100 and back on at 98.5. light is on for 30 to 35 seconds and off for about 45-50 seconds. from room temp to 100 deg was under 12 minutes.
currently working on building my first homemade incubator, so far matierials cost ($0)!!!
some of my materials are
cardboard boxes
pvc
alum foil
school glue stick
old lava lamp
scrap PVC
old snack food containers
old jelly jars
left over rabbit wire
old PC fan.
got to do some more digging for a thermostat. and hydrometers....
Just curious, but why does everyone seem to use light bulbs for heating a incubator? And water heater thermostats? I just bough 4 digital temperature controllers @ 14.00 each And I also have 150 watt strip heaters.
I used a small fridge with a glass door, next will be a full size with the freezer acting as a hatching room. (Higher humidity)
I bought an "incukit". It was complete heater ,fan,egg turner... great customer service setting it up
I watched a lot of videos and came up with a basic home made incubator. My hatch rate is 84% or 11/13 so far. I can easily have 19-20 eggs. Up to 24 probably, but the most I have hatched in there is 19. Take a look! I would love your comments. My first blog! http://wp.me/pVikS-g