equipment recommendations

[ajneal30]

I have attempted to incubate eggs twice now, once last year and once this year with very poor results. The first try I had 22 eggs in the bator and two hatched....five days late. I am pretty sure the thermometer I was going with was wrong. This time I trusted the thermometer that is built into my incubator, almost ten degrees warmer, but still ran the incubator on the cooler side. I figure better a late hatch than a cooked one. Today is day 24 for my eggs and not a single pip. My sons friend came over today and was looking at the incubator and asked if they can make noise before they hatch so I have hope I might still get one or two of my 41 eggs to hatch.

Question is: Does anyone have a recommendation for a thermometer/hygrometer they would trust and recommend? How woul I calibrate one that I bought to make sure it is accurate?

 

[ajneal30]

I am thinking of building a insulated box to keep my incubator in to keep the temp steady. I would like a set up where I can read a digital display and regulate the temp without opening the box. Any ideas?

 

[Godiva]

I am by no means an expert - but I can totally relate to needing something to put the incubator in to help it keep the temp more stable. What I did before to help with this was I got a large cardboard box and laid it on its side. The incubator sat on the bottom of the box and the flaps hung down. Then I draped a blanket over the whole thing leaving it just loosely draped, I still wanted airflow. It seemed to help the incubator - we lived in a place that was really cold at the time. The best results I have had were when I had an unused bathroom to put the hovabator in and kept the door closed. If it was really cold then I would turn on a space heater on low ... good luck! The least stressful way of hatching is under an obliging hen though If only they would go broody on demand huh?!