For anyone who has, or has had a Brower top hatch-?

[hypnofrogstevie]

I am willing to answer any questions regarding this bator. your welcome and I think the metal pieces are in the bator box if I am not mistaken

 

[wegotchickens]

It there a candelabra bulb out there higher than 60 watts? I'm having trouble keeping my bator at 99.5. Keeps wanting to stay on 98. Never goes below that, and sometimes I can get to 100, but seems to prefer 98-99.

DH doesn't want to wrap it or anything. He's afraid it would be a fire hazard if wrapped. Can't crank up the house heat much more, either.

Suggestions?

 

[wegotchickens]

Any Brower owners out there right now?

 

[Josie]

wegotchickens - even after you adjust the thermostat it goes back to 98?
(I know you probably already have you hatch, but I am curious)

 

[jimnjay]

Julie, If you have one of those little screwdrivers that computer folks use, they have a magnet on the end. If not try to find any little magnet. It helps when you take out the bearings. You can call Brower and they will send new ones Steve.

You don't have to lift the drum very high to get it off the slot where the turning wheel is.

I would not use a bulb higher than 60 degrees. If you have turned the dial on the heater, and it will not go above 98, you may have a bad thermostat, you need to call the place where you purchased it and see if they will send a new one. The 60 watt bulb is enough to get the temp way above that. I had mine up to 110 when I first got it and was trying to get it regulated. It takes a while to get it to change so move the dial and wait at least 30-40 minutes.

You can make a cozy for the tub out of bubble wrap and simply fasten it with tape. Make it just big enough to cover the tub so it does not block the air circulation at the bottom.

This time of year you may not have the problem I did with mine and that was getting humidity up during the last few days. I found that the synthetic shameys (sp) they sell at the auto stores work well. They hold the water better than a sponge.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

thanks jimnjay. I am not to worried right now. I need another metal thing for the bottom as well. It still turns so I am not that worried. on my third batch with this bator. Wish me luck

 

[wegotchickens]

I did wrap the Brower in bubble wrap, and that made a HUGE difference!

And I used paper towels to increase humidity so I could throw them away when I thought they looked yucky. DH suggested cutting cups down and filling them with hot water, too. I did that, then draped paper towels coming out of the water to wick the moisture onto a greater surface. Worked like a charm!

Didn't have ther greatest hatch, but got 25%. Part of that is I had thermometer issues and didn't realize it. Had two, and they were both equally off

Gonna get new thermometers and try again later this month!