I am going to try to hatch some eggs in my homemade bator again. I have had poor hatches and am making some changes to my system to help inprove the temp control. Right now it's just on and I am watching the temp. Then is hit me that the pepper seeds I started on Mon. do better with warm soil so I stuck them in there. Does anyone know if this will throw off the hatch if I would leave some of them in for the Hatch? (I do not have eggs in it and am looking at setting some next week.) I put a couple of water bottles in there to help regular the temp but I was wondering if a plastic container with dirt would do the same thing. Any thoughts?
I don't know about putting the dirt in the incubator, but you gave me a great idea. I could sit my seed starter tray on top of the incubator and the heat from the bator would heat the soil to help the germination process. Thanks!
Hey that's a good idea too. The dirt is is a container. I am not just throwing it in there. I cleaned my bator today before I hooked it up. And it isn't leaking anyway either.
Quote:Still, I would be weary. You don't know what bacteria and germs are in the dirt and just because it is in a container doesn't mean it won't contaminate the eggs.
If your using seed starter it's sterilized and usually doesn't even contain actual dirt. It should have no risk of bacteria. There is a slight risk of mold or fungus if it stays too wet though. The humidity might be an issue.
Before planting the seeds, bake the dirt in the oven to kill fungi and bacteria... (we bake ours on our wood stove in the green house)
PM rebelcowboysnb, I believe they use put plants etc. in the bator to help w/ oxygen and humidity... I think it's a neat idea!
Quote:I haven't add water to the pan yet and the humidity is staying about 40 - 50%. What is the recommended humity for the first 18 days, 40%? Would that be too high?
