American serama thread!

[CraigT]

Pointy side up?? No. definitely not.

Lay them on the side with the lowest dip of the air cell facing the ceiling of the incubator. I draw a vertical line (vertical related to air cell end to pointy end), just in case they get rolled by other hatchlings, I know which side was supposed to be up.

I figured it something like that, people really need to work on wording lol, I saw it written as placing it pointy side up in so many locations it's unreal.. maybe I'm too literal lol

 

[WVduckchick]

I figured it something like that, people really need to work on wording lol, I saw it written as placing it pointy side up in so many locations it's unreal.. maybe I'm too literal lol

Pointy end, I usually see referred to the tip of the egg opposite the air cell end. I've never seen any reference to pointy side.
And if you incubate eggs standing up, the air cell should be up, not the opposite, so I'm not sure where that would have come from. Unless it referred to the air cell dipping to one side, pointing that side up.

Good luck with your hatch! Post some pics when you can

 

[CraigT]

I have an incubator but thought I would ask this just in case of emergencies... when making an impromptu incubator do you have to use a heat lamp bulb or will a regular ( say 60w) bulb do the trick? I know the heat lamp bulbs come to temp pretty darn quick but what about the regular bulbs if they are used, how long do they take? My seramas are getting close to hatch time and I am starting to get the jitters lol I mean it IS Halloween and all ...

 

[WVduckchick]

Heat lamp bulb would get way too hot, I'd think, but it depends on how big an area you are trying to heat. Like I've see 2 40watt bulbs in a cooler provide enough heat. Even a smaller watt bulb could do it in a small container.

I think in an emergency situation, I'd try a heating pad, in conjunction with a small bulb, I think.

A few years ago, I had an old Chinese plastic incubator. The thermostat or something went out on day 18. it would not maintain temperature, but it was trying. I kept a heat lamp over top of the incubator and it worked, for 3 days, but i wouldn't try it for 21. Lol

There are lots of homemade builds here, if you want to look into a backup.

 

[CraigT]

how long do you think a small foam cooler would take to warm to temp.. I also have a chick heating plate.. guess I could utilize it in conjunction with the bulb.

 

[WVduckchick]

Hmmm, never thought about using my chick plate. Worth some experimenting, I'd think!
Those small foam coolers should heat up fairly quickly, with the right heat and ventilation.

 

[CraigT]

Okay so I put some shipping styro sheets ( about 1/2 in) in a 20 gallon aquarium and walled it in half .. also placed it on floor.. cut a 1/4 in plywood top with a window in and a bulb ( 25 watt amber) I have a single hole by bulb drilled in ( about 1/4 in) and temp seems to have leveled out at 105 and sticking .. is there a better way to drop the temp other than going to a 15 watt bulb ? I am so close if there is a simple mod I can make ( like more holes lol) that would be so much better.. I would be happy with 100 to 101.

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay so I put some shipping styro sheets ( about 1/2 in) in a 20 gallon aquarium and walled it in half .. also placed it on floor.. cut a 1/4 in plywood top with a window in and a bulb ( 25 watt amber) I have a single hole by bulb drilled in ( about 1/4 in) and temp seems to have leveled out at 105 and sticking .. is there a better way to drop the temp other than going to a 15 watt bulb ? I am so close if there is a simple mod I can make ( like more holes lol) that would be so much better.. I would be happy with 100 to 101.

Why walled in half? Is one half heated and the other not? Or is the whole thing warm?
Have you considered adding a computer fan?
My concern with an aquarium would be ventilation and air circulation.

 

[CraigT]

Initially I did it to conserve heat and possibly use the other half with a heat plate for after they hatch.. with the temp so high on a 25 watt amber bulb I am thinking I need to open it up to hopefully reduce the temp .. I don't have a fan but I think I can get ahold of one.. it has been several hours since it topped out at 105 today and has held steady.. I am temping at egg height at where they would be laying off to the side of the center of the bulb. If I can maybe open it up and bring down the temp I think it would be fine .. I only used the aquarium because it was laying around and I have this thing about repurposeing stuff.. kinda fun lol

 

[WVduckchick]

do you have room to get the heat source further away from the eggs? Taking the divider out or moving it over some, opening the space up would probably help.
Repurposing is great! And if this would work in an emergency situation, sounds like a wonderful repurpose to me.