I had a friend give me a bater. It was an older one made from galvanized metal. No insulation at all. Out of 51 eggs, I had only 2 hatch. At that moment I realized that the only viable part of that bater was the heating element and thermostat so I put those in the cabinet bater that i built. That alone save me several dollars. I decided to build my own because 2 of 51 was very updetting and I knew i could do better than that.
I bought a cheap water heater thermostat and installed in my homemade styro bator. Works great but I'm worried about the temperature constantly fluctuating. The thermostat kicks the heater off at about 102 and it kicks back on at about 96. The heating /cooling periods are only about 2 minutes long. Will the eggs still hatch? From my thinking they should be about the average temperature of the incubator inside since they heat/cool slower than air so the inside is hopefully around 99. I can't imagine this hatch will be any worse than the last one where I didn't have the thermostat and the temperature would skyrocket to 106 and drop to 95. :/ had 7 of 23 make it to lockdown and 2 of 7 hatch.... Any advice? 
I have 45 mail order eggs in it now. This will be my first hatch with it so i dont know what the hatch rate will be. But based on comditions so far, I am certain i will have as high as possible with the eggs being mail order. All the same though, wish me luck. After that 2 of 51 hatch, i would propably loose all hope if it happened in this new bater.
With that much temp fluctuation your eggs will still hatch. But not without no propable defects. More likely, 5 toes instead of 4, things of that nature. I would suggest going to incubatorwarehouse.com and purchasing a wafer thermostat for about 25 bucks.I'm here to bug you all again.
And loving the babies! Keep the pics coming! I'll try to post some of my 2 tomorrow.
I have a homemade styrobator. My temps with my first hatch fluxuated between 97 and 104 (yikes). I had sat a dozen eggs. 2 were infertile and 1 was an early death. The other 9 were successful hatches. I am currently in my 2nd round. My bator has hovered between 97-102 consistently (yaay), I sat a dozen eggs. 2 were early death. 5 have hatched, 3 are pipped externally and 2 pipped internally on day 21. I wouldnt worry about the fluxuation too muchI'm here to bug you all again.I bought a cheap water heater thermostat and installed in my homemade styro bator. Works great but I'm worried about the temperature constantly fluctuating. The thermostat kicks the heater off at about 102 and it kicks back on at about 96. The heating /cooling periods are only about 2 minutes long. Will the eggs still hatch? From my thinking they should be about the average temperature of the incubator inside since they heat/cool slower than air so the inside is hopefully around 99. I can't imagine this hatch will be any worse than the last one where I didn't have the thermostat and the temperature would skyrocket to 106 and drop to 95.
had 7 of 23 make it to lockdown and 2 of 7 hatch.... Any advice?
And loving the babies! Keep the pics coming! I'll try to post some of my 2 tomorrow.
Just make sure it stays pretty consistent.
