Egg incubating fiasco - advice please! *New Pictures!*

[1234duck]

It would be well worth it to go pick yourself up a thermometer & the humidity thingy.. They aren't real expensive & you never know you might need it again sometime. Good luck, ~Julie~

 

[AdamD77]

Well I went out and got myself a thermometer! It's a bit confusing though

I'll get my dad to help me understand it

The cloth seemed to be making the eggs a bit cold, so I've removed it. I'm gonna transfer everything into a large plastic tub soon. I'll get some pictures and then if you guys could recommend any changes or improvements I'll make them

Thanks for all your help so far!

 

[featherfinder]

What about a wet heat heating pad? I have one and it has 3 settings. low, medium, and high. Then it has a removable pad that you are suppose to keep moist. you would just have to keep wetting it every few hours depending on the heat setting you have it on. maybe you could devise a little set up like the heating pad and/or moist cloth and a cooling rack about a inch high to put the eggs on so they are not directly on the heating pad/moisture source and then your desk light above that. maybe look into a reptile heat light. Use the thermometer so you can adjust the heat source and just keep an eye on the sides of the bin for condensation. That should tell you when you have good humity.

Hope this helps and good lick with your hatch. If i am wrong about anything in this please correct me. I have never hatched anything but read as many threads as i can about how to untill i feel comfortable about doing it on my own


edited- What about a egg carton to put them in? stirofoam (i know i cant spell) or cardboard?

 

[AdamD77]

I've never heard of such a contraption! Heat pads yes, but not wet ones

I think it's probably a bit specialised to be able to find in a general shop! I've taken note of the condensation to show good humidity though

I've finally done the change-over:

Everything is now contained in a yellow transparent plastic tub. The lamp is stacked on top of books to be able to get in the tub at a good angle. The tub is covered with a tea towel which is fastened with clothes pegs.

This shows the whole of the lamp. You can see the base stacked on top of the books, with the actual light angled down into the tub and a ruler to raise the tea towel at a certain point to stop the hot head of the lamp touching the towel.

This final picture shows the contents of the tub quite well. The lamp at the top as mentioned before with the ruler raising the towel, the eggs are still in the scarf but not covered with it anymore. I have put two water bottle lids of water inside to maybe help with humidity, plus the damp towel. Finally the thermometer to give a rough guide to the temperature.

I hope this new set-up will give the eggs the best chance of success. If anyone has any comments, advice or improvements I could make, please let me know!

 

[featherfinder]

Quote:
lol They are pretty common here in the US. You can buy them in pretty much any CVS or Walgreens here. Im not sure what you have in general stores there in England but it is a heating pad with like a thin removable sponge that you are suppose to wet and reincert into the heating pad. It like wet heat. Really good for injuries. They always produce alot of moisture. If you were not so close to hatch i would offer to send you one lol. Still could if you are just interested in such a wierd thing lol.

 

[1234duck]

In order to check the temp correctly (b/c your using a light which the heat/hottest area is basically straight down under the bulb) you need to lay the thermometer on "top of the eggs".wait a few minutes then move it to the top of another egg. After each reading, before I put it on another area/egg I would take the thermometer and wave it around a little or open the fridge to lower the temp reading a bit(so its different before you try another area. your temp needs to be monitored in the area where the eggs will be. put the top of your hand under the light/heat then slowly move your hand to a different location(away from the light) do you feel the difference of the heat? you might need something to help support the thermometer on the eggs(a shot glass or little measuring cup ect...) Good luck, ~Julie~

 

[AdamD77]

Hmm, did a search for them but it seems to be something you can get online and isn't in shops... Probably not worth ordering one since I'm far through incubation... I have found an electric greenhouse heater on Argos that I could reserve and collect in store! Do you think that would work? It might be better for when I want higher humidity too?

Thanks for the advice on the thermometer, I did think of that. At the moment it says 26^C out of the direct heat, but I'll put it on the eggs and see what it says.

 

[AdamD77]

Okay, this morning I put the thermometer on the eggs, checked a few hours later and it was at around 39^C. I moved the lamp up slightly and the temperature is now at around 33^C. Should I move the thermometer off of the eggs now that I know the temperature is not too bad? I assume the eggs aren't that hot with the thermometer on top of them...

I'm still worried about humidity. I've resprayed the flannel a couple of times today, but there is only the tiniest bit of condensation where it is touching the side of the tub. Should I wet another towel and put that in too?

Also, due to the fact the eggs are staggered (they were laid on the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th of June), should I make today the last day I candle and touch the eggs? I may have to get in to check temp. and add stuff for humidity during lockdown, is it okay or should I just chuck a load of soggy towels in now and leave it?

 

[gofasterstripe]

Your humidity is probably escaping thru the towel over the top of the tub. Yes throw a load of wet towels in there

 

[AdamD77]

Yeah maybe, its difficult to contain. Do you think maybe putting another tea towel on top would hold it in better? I've put another towel in, maybe I'll wet some clean socks and hang them over the edges...?