5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[Scottyhorse]

Incubator question, sorry - Do I need a thermostat and fan? Was planning on a simple bator with a styro box, light, water, and chicken wire with a viewing window, and a thermometer and humidity gauge.

 

[DeckDuck]

Hey, I'm back! I've carefully considered everything, confirmed that it wont alienate my family members too much, and I think I'm in. I'm going to try anyway! This will be way more fun than ordering chicks in the spring.

The only thing is that it turns out I'm going to be busy on both the eleventh AND New Year's Eve.

Is is cheating to start a day or two late?


Tonight I'm going to get out the incubator and see if I can learn to use it and start a dry run. I've started to read up on how to do this, too. I see that humidity is relative, but is there a normal range that I should be trying for? What should I sterilize with?

 

[ronott1]

Incubator question, sorry - Do I need a thermostat and fan? Was planning on a simple bator with a styro box, light, water, and chicken wire with a viewing window, and a thermometer and humidity gauge.

I would use a thermostat. Temperature control is very important.

Look for the Still incubator tips on BYC and you should be OK without a fan.

 

[ronott1]

Hey, I'm back! I've carefully considered everything, confirmed that it wont alienate my family members too much, and I think I'm in. I'm going to try anyway! This will be way more fun than ordering chicks in the spring.

The only thing is that it turns out I'm going to be busy on both the eleventh AND New Year's Eve.

Is is cheating to start a day or two late?


Tonight I'm going to get out the incubator and see if I can learn to use it and start a dry run. I've started to read up on how to do this, too. I see that humidity is relative, but is there a normal range that I should be trying for? What should I sterilize with?

No, it is fine! Some will be hatching the too--some breeds are notoriously late hatchers.....

I use Lysol all purpose cleaner. A weak bleach solution will work too. Many use Oxine without the activator.

 

[mstricer]

I've used Clorox wipes, they work nicely and say they have no bleach in them. Love them for everything

 

[chicken pickin]

I use soap and warm water to clean my incubators and then a good wipe down with Lysol or Clorox wipes.

 

[Scottyhorse]

I would use a thermostat. Temperature control is very important.

Look for the Still incubator tips on BYC and you should be OK without a fan.

Ok. Any ideas on the cheapest, reliable thermostat? The bator will be in the basement, so there will not be any temperature fluctuation.

 

[Nancy Jones]

Thank you!!!

 

[ClucksnDucksMI]

I'm in! I have polish/leghorn mixes I will be setting! How fun, can't wait!

 

[Aphrael]

Do not worry like this!

I almost died when I saw that animation. One of my chihuahuas looked a great deal like that when she looked out the door this morning to see ice and snow. The other one is smart, she looked at me like "What? Me? Go out THERE?

No thanks mom ... I'll just use the box." (They are litter box trained so going in the "great outdoor woods" is optional.)

Incubator question, sorry - Do I need a thermostat and fan? Was planning on a simple bator with a styro box, light, water, and chicken wire with a viewing window, and a thermometer and humidity gauge.

Some people do them without thermostats, but I would think it would be VERY hard to get the stable temps you need.

Ok. Any ideas on the cheapest, reliable thermostat? The bator will be in the basement, so there will not be any temperature fluctuation.

I got a digital one called "stc 1000" on Amazon for around $20. It reads only in celcius, but I didn't find that to be a big deal. I just looked up a conversion for the correct temp and set it. It has been holding rock steady so far. Kicks on at 37.3 celcius and off at 37.6 celcius.