Cozy Coop Heater as Incubator?

[AuntChick]

Has anyone used a Cozy Coop flat heater as an incubator/in a homemade incubator? My nephew's rooster was killed (presumably by a racoon) last night and so they're wanting to try to incubate some of the eggs. (So they need to get their incubator set up ASAP.) I have a Cozy Coop heater but all I'm seeing on it is using it with as little as 1 day-old chicks. Thanks in advance.

 

[nuthatched]

Can it maintain a small window of temperature?

 

[Yardmom]

An incubator needs humidity and temperature control. The cozy coop would just give heat, and I don't think it would be precise enough. Is buying a incubator an option? The eggs could be stored over a week before incubating. Also the hens should have fertilized eggs for a couple of weeks as well.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

There is an old thread (2014?) where someone made an incubator by putting moist dirt in a lined cardboard box, leaves on top, then a straw next, then eggs, then a heating pad on top. She put a meat thermometer inside a water wiggler and adjusted to height of the heating pad until the thermometer read 100F. Had to raise the pad up more toward the end because the eggs themselves start to generate some heat.

Anyway, it DID work, but the secret was to measure the temp with the thermometer in the water wiggler (sold on amazon) to mimic measuring the temps inside the eggs.

Oh and she manually turned them 3x per day and did NOT add more water, even during lockdown/hatching. Just the soil moisture was enough.

I haven’t tried it myself, but was tempted to this year with quail eggs. Let me know if you try it!

 

[AuntChick]

Thank you!! This is all very helpful!

 

[AuntChick]

An incubator needs humidity and temperature control. The cozy coop would just give heat, and I don't think it would be precise enough. Is buying a incubator an option? The eggs could be stored over a week before incubating. Also the hens should have fertilized eggs for a couple of weeks as well.

Is it okay if they're kept at room temperature until they get an incubator or set one up?

 

[aart]

Is it okay if they're kept at room temperature until they get an incubator or set one up?

Yes.
60's-70's would be best.
I'd not wait more than a week or so, the sooner the better.

Here's some reading while you wait for incubator.
An accurate thermometer is the most important thing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I think you also ideally want to store them pointy end down, but slightly change the angle a few times per day so the air cell stays at the fat end but nothing gets stuck to the side of the eggshell. Lots of people use an egg carton to hold the eggs and then stick a book under one side to angle it slightly and then periodically switch it to the other side. So it “see saws” the carton and thus changes the angle for the eggs. I hope that made sense?

I have just been doing lots of research before I try a hatch…this is not firsthand experience. So maybe take what others say more seriously? But sharing what I’ve read and seen on youtube