I'm back for more.
I had a 38% hatch rate little over a week ago. Several have not made it though & currently I have 14 chicks our of the original 58 set. Of the 58 18 (or so) were duds from the start.
Very large home made incubator - build from scraps & bits for the most part from around the garage - I did a build thread a while back.
In any case - I really had a hard time with lock down last time. I was unable to get the humidity above 50% & I'm pretty sure it killed most of my chicks in the egg - I tossed about 20 fully developed never pipped eggs. When I opend a few of them they seemed very dry inside.
So - for the improvements.
1) the bator is made from old cedar boards left over from a picket fence project. This wood is very dry & I think it sucked the water right out of them. The lid was the only portion exposed to the inside of the bator though so I sealed this wood with the same aluminum tape I used to seal the rest of the incubator. No exposed wood to suck the water out.
2) My water resevours did great for incubating but I couldn't increase the H in lock down as they were at capacity. So (this is cool) I changed out the 7x9 plastic containers for paint pans. These two paint pans have a sloped surface - so when I add more water to them they dont just get deeper - but they increase the surface area of the water exposed to the air! More surface area = more humidity.
My initial test are showing with 1 pan 1/2 full my humidity is holding at 40% to 43%. I'll let it cook for a few more days to be sure.
So come lock down - I can not only increase the surface area of the one pan - but I have an entire other pan I can expand into with two large sponges in.
3) the handles to my turner were simple pipes - I ran a bolt through them to make it easier to turn them with a heavy set of eggs. I really had a time if it with these in the mornings before - any lotion on my hands & forget it.
4) I replaced the drill bit I was using to hold the turner in the up position with a large nail. Wasn't necessary - but is stronger & feels more secure.
5) I extended the thermostat out away from the wall about 1/2 inch - I heard this helps with the sensitivity.
6) final thing - my PC fan died suddenly - not sure why - luckily my old pc had another. So I replaced that. This one pushes a lot more air - so I'm not sure I like that - but its either that or buy something.
Oh - one last thing I plan to do - I incubated & hatched in paper cartons with the bottom cut out. I think this contributed to the dry condition. I will be using clear plastic cartons this time - also with the bottom cut out.
Wish me luck - will be setting in about a week after I collect enough eggs.
I had a 38% hatch rate little over a week ago. Several have not made it though & currently I have 14 chicks our of the original 58 set. Of the 58 18 (or so) were duds from the start.
Very large home made incubator - build from scraps & bits for the most part from around the garage - I did a build thread a while back.
In any case - I really had a hard time with lock down last time. I was unable to get the humidity above 50% & I'm pretty sure it killed most of my chicks in the egg - I tossed about 20 fully developed never pipped eggs. When I opend a few of them they seemed very dry inside.
So - for the improvements.
1) the bator is made from old cedar boards left over from a picket fence project. This wood is very dry & I think it sucked the water right out of them. The lid was the only portion exposed to the inside of the bator though so I sealed this wood with the same aluminum tape I used to seal the rest of the incubator. No exposed wood to suck the water out.
2) My water resevours did great for incubating but I couldn't increase the H in lock down as they were at capacity. So (this is cool) I changed out the 7x9 plastic containers for paint pans. These two paint pans have a sloped surface - so when I add more water to them they dont just get deeper - but they increase the surface area of the water exposed to the air! More surface area = more humidity.
My initial test are showing with 1 pan 1/2 full my humidity is holding at 40% to 43%. I'll let it cook for a few more days to be sure.
So come lock down - I can not only increase the surface area of the one pan - but I have an entire other pan I can expand into with two large sponges in.
3) the handles to my turner were simple pipes - I ran a bolt through them to make it easier to turn them with a heavy set of eggs. I really had a time if it with these in the mornings before - any lotion on my hands & forget it.
4) I replaced the drill bit I was using to hold the turner in the up position with a large nail. Wasn't necessary - but is stronger & feels more secure.
5) I extended the thermostat out away from the wall about 1/2 inch - I heard this helps with the sensitivity.
6) final thing - my PC fan died suddenly - not sure why - luckily my old pc had another. So I replaced that. This one pushes a lot more air - so I'm not sure I like that - but its either that or buy something.
Oh - one last thing I plan to do - I incubated & hatched in paper cartons with the bottom cut out. I think this contributed to the dry condition. I will be using clear plastic cartons this time - also with the bottom cut out.
Wish me luck - will be setting in about a week after I collect enough eggs.
