Incubator temperature range; Is it ok?

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SanCarlos6127

SanCarlos6127

In the Brooder
6 Years
Oct 12, 2013
62
8
33
Brooks, Maine
I recently built an incubator using an old aquarium, water heater thermostat and a 100w bulb. The thermostat is touchy and I have had a hard time getting it to the temp range I want (99.5-100)

I have three thermometers at egg level, the cheapo digital cycles from 100.4-100.8, one analog shows approx 101 and the other analog shows just under 102. Am I going to be ok in this temp range? It took a few tries to get it this close I'm thinking the one analog just reads high (ie: inaccurate) as it is at the end of the warm air path so it should actually read slightly cooler.

I can open a couple more vent holes as well, might help. I have a few more days to dial the thermostat in but I doubt I will get it much closer than where I am now.

Yes, i know, buy a real incubator thermostat....
 
Last edited:
If you don't have a fan in the incubator the temperature should read 101*F to 102*F measured at the top of the eggs. Watch out for warmer and cooler spots in the incubator by measuring the temperature all over, especially close to and far away from the heat source, in the corners etc.
 
Yes, I'm running a fan. It took several tries but I managed to get a steady 100° on both analog thermometers last night and it is still right on as of this morning. I've got a few more days to do some tweaks on on it if I need to while I wait for the eggs to arrive. Hopefully they don't come scrambled.
 
Great! I'd suggest keeping it running for another 24 hours at least, just to make 100% sure before you set the eggs. Best of luck with the hatch and fingers crossed the eggs arrive in good shape.
 
I am looking for some place to get my chickens checked for diseases I live close to Topeka, Kansas also need to know what necessary requirements to have before sell eggs or birds at a swap meet, birds are almost 6months old and came from responsible commercial feed dealer- store, Thanks Roger
 
Regor said:
I am looking for some place to get my chickens checked for diseases I live close to Topeka, Kansas also need to know what necessary requirements to have before sell eggs or birds at a swap meet, birds are almost 6months old and came from responsible commercial feed dealer- store, Thanks Roger
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC! I'm not familiar with the requirements for selling eggs in your state, or where you can get your birds tested, but if you post and ask in your state thread, the members there should be able to advice you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/248925/consolidated-kansas

Enjoy the site!
 
Also, put in some GLASS jars of water to help hold in the heat .... sort of like a heat sink.
In my opinion, plastic jars don't radiate the heat back into the incubator as well as the glass ones.
This should give you a more consistent temperature. Run 3 days straight prior to putting in the eggs.
Also, get a sheet of the 3/4" builders foam from the hardware store.... not styrofoam ... but the foam board
that has foil on each side....... tape this to the sides and bottom to for good insulation.

GOOD LUCK !!


I made my incubator just out of the foamboard .... put glass from a picture frame on one side and on the top to view in.
 

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