DIY Incubator Adventure

[Ghosty]

Yeah I don’t like this one at all. I was look at that and I think I found the equivalent for Canada (finding things that will ship here is a nightmare). The only downside is that it’ll arrive in June and that’s when I need to have the next hatch done by.

The only reason why I went with the water heater thermostat is because it was the only one I could get without waiting over a month for shipping. It’s actually held the temp okay, but a better one would be nice. Although the whole point of the coolerbater is to be budget friendly and by the time I shell out for all the extras, I may as well get an actual incubator.

Since I’ve been recalibrating this morning it’s been going in between 98.8F and 100.1F, which is pretty decent. But clearly it’s too hard on the bulb. I guess this why I was experimenting....

Also did you have a hard time getting bulbs? There was barely any selection for things that weren’t LEDs!

Ah, I forgot you saying shipping was a nightmare. Same reason I didn't order a hygrometer. I was afraid it wouldn't even arrive in time. I was lucky I got my fan quickly. The controller for it took three weeks to get here, but turns out I didn't need it anyway.
I already had the bulbs on hand for a dim bulb tester I was making long ago. I like them a lot for the incubator. They are just Great Value 40 watt globes from Walmart. The globe shape gives them more surface area to heat the incubator and they don't get very hot. I would call around to places like Lowes, HomeDepot, farm stores if you cant find any at the department store.
Really, I think after you start looking at the cost of a good incubator like a Brinsea, that can hold very many eggs, a cooler bator is much more cost effective. I spent maybe $70 on the cooler bator, and that includes the 40$ inkbird. You could get a wafer thermostat for 10 or 15 bucks I think. A humidity controller is not really necessary in a cooler size incubator. Mine stayed steady by just adding the right amount of surface water.
An egg turner will cost a little extra, but I will still be only around the 100$ mark for a very nice incubator that holds very steady temps, and I can replace parts on it or upgrade at will.

 

[Ghosty]

You might find a reptile thermostat at a pet store nearby.

 

[Kafen]

Ah, I forgot you saying shipping was a nightmare. Same reason I didn't order a hygrometer. I was afraid it wouldn't even arrive in time. I was lucky I got my fan quickly. The controller for it took three weeks to get here, but turns out I didn't need it anyway.
I already had the bulbs on hand for a dim bulb tester I was making long ago. I like them a lot for the incubator. They are just Great Value 40 watt globes from Walmart. The globe shape gives them more surface area to heat the incubator and they don't get very hot. I would call around to places like Lowes, HomeDepot, farm stores if you cant find any at the department store.
Really, I think after you start looking at the cost of a good incubator like a Brinsea, that can hold very many eggs, a cooler bator is much more cost effective. I spent maybe $70 on the cooler bator, and that includes the 40$ inkbird. You could get a wafer thermostat for 10 or 15 bucks I think. A humidity controller is not really necessary in a cooler size incubator. Mine stayed steady by just adding the right amount of surface water.
An egg turner will cost a little extra, but I will still be only around the 100$ mark for a very nice incubator that holds very steady temps, and I can replace parts on it or upgrade at will.

That’s a great point, it’s something that is fixable instead of having to worry about replacement part for a certain brand. And for $100 you don’t get a very reliable incubator (at least if you go by the reviews). I bit the bullet and ordered an Inkbird plug in thermostat. It has an alarm if temps go past certain settings which is suuuuper nice. It also has a plug for cooling, which will come in handy if I want to make cheese one day (that’s a whole other set of worries haha)

It’s scheduled to come May 19th which is a bit later than I wanted to start my next hatch. That means that the chicks I’m picking up from the hatchery will be a few days older than the ones I’m hatching out myself. Hope it isn’t a problem!

https://www.amazon.ca/Inkbird-Itc-3...ords=inkbird+thermostat&qid=1588186125&sr=8-4

On a side note, the saying “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” has such a real meaning to me now!

 

[Kafen]

So today is day 18. Candle day. After the catastrophe I wasn’t expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. Still not wanting to get my hopes up, but there was solid movement in multiple eggs and most showed further development.

There were only 2 that looked, well, wrong.... I haven’t been candling for long enough to really tell, but it was far too see-through and was free floating in the shell. I took these out since I didn’t want to risk any that may have a chance to make it. I’m also considering doing an eggtoposy, anyone have experience with them?

I put a larger container to raise the humidity for lockdown and am waiting for the incubator to get back up to temp. I might have to decrease the size of the water container since humidity hasn’t been a problem and I’m more worried about it going too high. Then I was playing around with the idea of opening another vent so they have enough air, but I’ll see.

I’ll be happy if I get even one chick from this!

 

[careeka22]

Good luck! Don't give up hope, my last hatch with my home-made was all over the place and eggs were slow to develop. 3 still hatched. I have 15 in there now looking good but lockdown is always nerve wracking!

 

[Kafen]

Good luck! Don't give up hope, my last hatch with my home-made was all over the place and eggs were slow to develop. 3 still hatched. I have 15 in there now looking good but lockdown is always nerve wracking!

Thank you! I’ll keep everyone updated, I’m so nervous to go to bed. Since I added the water it’s been hotter and fiddling with this thermostat sucks. Humidity was at 66% when I left it, so at least that’s good!

 

[Kafen]

I was hovering over the incubator today (holding steady at 99.4F and 65% humidity) and I swear I heard a peep! I’m wondering if the incubator leaning towards the hotter side (and with that temperature spike) will mean they will hatch a bit early. If any make it at all, they’re troopers. Still exciting though! Only two more days of lockdown to go....

 

[Kafen]

There’s a pip! I repeat, there’s a pip!!! It’s from one that had lots of movement so I had high hopes. This is so exciting!

 

[Kafen]

Five for sure with another 3 pipped! Wow, what troopers. I’m so impressed with them. They’re so awkward looking though, romping around like little dinosaurs. Definitely not graceful, but so incredibly cute!

 

[Ghosty]

Five for sure with another 3 pipped! Wow, what troopers. I’m so impressed with them. They’re so awkward looking though, romping around like little dinosaurs. Definitely not graceful, but so incredibly cute!

Awesome! I'm so happy for you after all your efforts. Way to go!