Chic Chick 'Bator *UPDATED*

[turtle1173]

Very good points Elderoo.

I realize with a dimmer switch, the inside temp would be much more reliant upon steady temps outside also.

A point I hadn't thought of is that all modern incubators that I know of, use a thermostat to regulate temps. That should not be easily dismissed.

Great thoughts. I appreciate the response, as I was just thinking out loud but would really like to make one in the near future.

I have an old hovabator that I used to use on turtle/ tortoise eggs. It has no fan and uses a sort of "wafer thermostat" device to control the temp. I might try to modify it somewhat to use with the chicks. I esp. like the computer fan idea. Very nice.

For those of you not familiar with hatching turtle eggs... Just imagine having to wait 6 months or so for your eggs to hatch instead of 21 days!!

Now there's some stress, LOL!!

Shane

 

[donnap1967]

Quote:
My silkie eggs came today and they are resting right now. I have had my homemade styro incubator running for two days and I added a jar of water for a heat sink early this morning. As of right now my temps are fluctuating between 98.4 and 102.9.....Is this too much of a fluctuation? Would those temps be dangerous for the chicks and kill my hatch?

Please help! I am so nervous!!! I have been futzing (is that a word?) with this incubator thermostat adjustment on and off for weeks and this is the best I have been able to manage!!!

 

[donnap1967]

Quote:
My silkie eggs came today and they are resting right now. I have had my homemade styro incubator running for two days and I added a jar of water for a heat sink early this morning. As of right now my temps are fluctuating between 98.4 and 102.9.....Is this too much of a fluctuation? Would those temps be dangerous for the chicks and kill my hatch?

Please help! I am so nervous!!! I have been futzing (is that a word?) with this incubator thermostat adjustment on and off for weeks and this is the best I have been able to manage!!!

Added this with another question to a more appropriate post here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=52437

 

[goatkeepers]

How did this work for you? DOH and I just built one today and put our eggs in it.

 

[MissPrissy]

Many people have built a version of this bator and had great success.

 

[Mrs MIA]

I now have 3...

This has been the best thing ever!

 

[friedchicken]

Hi folks;

I am on day 20 and the chicks are starting to peck at the shells ... so far I have about 5 that seem active.
My 'chick-a-bator' seems to be working great. If you will rember, I installed the turning cranks so that I wouldn't have to keep opening the top of the incubator. This has worked like a dream. How long does it take for the chicks to get completely out of their shells? I hear them chirping too! Soo cool!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Quote:
And I am one of the proud owners of a homemade "chick-a-bator"! Because of where I have mine..in a room away from windows, blinds shuts and a/c set at 77...and the overhead fan on low, I decided to install the dimmer and took out the thermostat. So far it hasn't varied much. The downside??...it takes an hour or so for the temp to come back up after I turn the eggs. I'm going to rig up some rubber gloves that are attached to the bator with the "hand part" inside so I don't have to open the lid to turn the eggs. I am going to wait until the next hatch for this though.

I thought about trying to get a hold of pediatric incubator portholes to install. That would be cool, wouldn't it??

 

[MissPrissy]

I am very happy for your successes!

friedchicken it can take them 24 - 36 hours after pipping to completely hatch. Keep the bator closed and the humidity high so they don't dry out.

 

[friedchicken]

Thanks Missprissy;

This morning I have had several more to pip their shells. I started hatching 22 eggs. I really don't know how many will make it. What is a usual percentage that make it in an incubator?