Bator to full?

[silkiechicken]

IF the lid was air tight and you had a good way of filling it, you could use it to make a waterer out of it. For it to hold, you need it to be air tight.

 

[Mareloo]

I am convinced there is something wrong with the design of the two big bators. The smaller ones has proven to be okay.

Being convinced and all, I surced the net today and tonight, looking at pics of other peoples incubators. This is what I have decided to do. Please tell me what you all think of my new (improved) plans..

I am going to put in more lights, spaced closer together, in the hope that the tempreture swing will be less.

I am going to line all the walls out with heavy duty foil, hoping to cut out on any cold spots. I don't know what side must be showing.. The shiny side or matte side?

I am going to place a fan in. On the breath of it. I just cant figure if I should put them above or under the lights.. Or maybe between the eggs and water?

Then in a effort to keep the temperature as stable as humanly possible, I want to place a water thermostat in the water tray, under the eggs. It will be great for humidity and I think keep the temperature more stable..

What do you people think? Have I eventually lost my mind or am I on to a better thing here?

Any thoughts or comments will be greatly appreciated. I want to built the best bator humanly possible.

 

[silkiechicken]

Those do sound like good ideas, but to make a more even temperature, I think a fan will do much better, as it will keep the air circulated. Even a small one would help. Lights closer together will just cause it to heat up faster when the thermometer is on. The temperature swing is probably due to the thermostat switching having a wide range. Good luck.

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

I would think that the shiny side bounces more of the light-rays back across the 'bator. That's part of why it's shinier, I think. Maybe that is what you want.

 

[Mareloo]

Silkiechicken... I am going to put a fan in. It is just a question of were to mount it.. Were are all your peoples fan mounted? Between the lights and the roof? or maybe between the eggs and lights? or water and eggs? The thermostat switch is the best on offer here but definably not ideal. Your country is so much better and cheaper believe it or not. I wonder if one of thous places will ship here. I will contact them and find out..

NewGuineaChooks.. You are right, that is exactly what I want.. Thank you..

 

[Mareloo]

hmmmm... I wonder if they wont ship the whole thing out... I wonder what that will cost in Rands.. Maybe the price of a new car.. That is okay.. I really don't need a new car...

 

[silkiechicken]

I say you can put the fan anywhere. I have my fan just sitting on the wire floor of my bator pointing up. Sometimes it sits on the floor and points to the side. I just make sure it doesn't point at an egg as it will dry the chick out.

 

[nccatnip]

Quote:
If they won't ship, you can ship to one of us and we in turn can ship to you. I have no idea what shipping would cost, maybe even more than the cost of the unit but if you need it and find no other way, it is an alternative.

 

[jimnjay]

Marelo, This is a fasinating thread. I am so happy you have found us and are willing to share your experiences with us and the photos are wonderful.

As to the breeds you may be getting from your eggs. I agree on the Turken, Rocks and there is obviousely a columbian type or Brahama in the mix. They are beautiful and very healthy looking. I also saw a small crest on one that leads me to think of Brabanter. Since So. Africa is tied so closely with the Dutch, I would think you will see many of the wonderful Dutch breeds mixed in.

I would like to add a bit about the fan. I have had two different types of incubators and one had the fan mounted on the bottom and the air was forced up through a cylincer type of thing. The other is on the top but the unit has a dome shaped top. If it were me, I would mount it on the side of your unit. It will circulate the warm air from the top but not directly on the eggs. If you can leave some space in your future hatches for the addition of wet sponges or rolled up socks that helps during the last few days. I also noticed that your cups of water are rather close to the tray holding the eggs. I am thinking that you may be better using the shallow tin pans that will allow the air to flow over the evaporating water better. The cups are great for heat sinks or stablizers but I think I would try to allow for larger surface for evaporation. Just my humble opinion.

I commend you on your efforts and I anxiously look forward to your updates.

If I can be of assistance in getting you thermostats or whatever you may need, I would be happy to get them in the mail to you. I imagine it will take quite some time to arrive in spite of the speed we can travel the world these days, it seems the mail has not yet caught up due to customs and such.

 

[Mareloo]

Jimnjay, this is the place to let all your opinions known. It is sought after and valued! Please don't be humble about it. LOL!

First of... Day 20.. My second batch.. The first slight showing of a pip! Bit early... But... YEA!!

I know there is some confusion about my cups in the bottom of the bators.. Not only on BYC but also in this household! You must see the peoples faces when I tell them to bring there own cups if they want coffee.. I am suppling the ingredients as is! :| (I got "promises" for Christmas gifts.. LOL)

See? There is little space left in front of my "trays'. Nothing (what I got) fit in there except.. cups.. I had humidity problems and could think of nothing else to get it up except to cover the whole floor of the bator. You make perfect sense.. I never took circulation into account. I will definably lift the egg hight when I install my nifty semi automatic egg turner that I am going to built this week! I am planing big changes in all the bators.

Thank you for the advice on the fan. I will follow it and show pics when I am done. Do you think I must maybe install 2? One on each end of the bator?

You are right about the close ties with the Dutch. It wont surprise me at all if there are plenty mix in all the eggs that hatch. LOL, my egg man come visit me on Thursday. He gave me two naked neck chicks. They only look ugly for the first few days. This afternoon when I went to give them all a treat (ever saw a chicken with a banana?) they positivity look cute!

I am going to do all the changes that I have outlined here and if it doesn't solve my problems I will definably take you and Nccatnip up on your kind offer and order myself some American thermostats! Thank you both!

Friend.. You got no idea just how happy I am to be a member of this site!!

edited to add.. And if that doesnt solve my problems.. I will get a professional incubator.