home made bator

[DragunzGirl]

ok i made a home made chicken bator cause i was tired of useing my reptile one for chicken eggs.

ok well i found a site to make mine by, Gopher-Bator also found chick bator

I kind of mixed them both and made mine. well any way i useing the Water heater thermostat. There is a computer fan also in there and the bulb. I put the thermostat around 100F i think, but the temp keeps going at least up to 106F and than when the bulb goes off it goes down to like 89F or so..... So i am cufused on that. Maybe the bulb is to much watt for the bator? I useing a 40watt.

Here is a photo of it. I am going to add some wire in there so the chicks wont be able to get to the light, also going to add a bottom part in there.

 

[paddock36]

Do you have any way to put some foil in front of the bulb to block the direct heat to the eggs. Then the fan can help circulate the heat. Also move your little thermometer from under the bulb because it will diffinitely be hotter there. Just a suggestion. Also, why not join the incubator contest. You did the work, so give it a try.

 

[DragunzGirl]

oh wow ok thanks lots, ya i was going to put some wire up in front of the bulb so chicks cant reach it when they hatch, so ya i can put the foil up to

never thought of that lol. and mmm a contest

i liked that sound i'll look into that.

also i did move the little thermometer from under the light over some, and i put a digi thermometer
in there, thats what im reading the temps from. This thermometer also works good cause its the one i use on my reptile incubator.

 

[paddock36]

Here's the link for the current contest https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=316076 Also, if you look on my BYC page you can see how what I was talking about. I used metal AC duct-tape 'cause it's foil on one side and tape on the other so I was able to just stick it to the wire divider.

 

[DragunzGirl]

Quote:
thank you for the link, i'll get my bator fully done and than post it up

also ya im going to fix up the wire tomorrow

 

[paddock36]

Oh, the contest ends on 09/12 and you have to put your entry on a BYC page. Good luck!

 

[DragunzGirl]

kk, thanks for the info, i'll have it done tomorrow night than i can take pics and post it up

I put some foil in front of the bulb at moment and its helping with the temp's some so thats good news for me.

 

[paddock36]

Glad to hear it helped. I'm no expert, but that's how mine is and from the pictures it looks like you used the same type of thermostat I did.

 

[ssbs]

Do you have holes drilled in your thermostat housing?? I had the same problem with my bator before I put my first batch of eggs in. Someone recommended drilling holes.

I put three 1/8" holes in the front of the thermostat, in the black housing. The person who suggested it actually took the housing off first, but I think that needlessly compromises the stuff inside. So just carefully and slowly drill the holes, as soon as it is all the way through the housing I back out.

This allows for the components inside to cool down quicker so you have less of a variance in the temperature, about one degree at the most.

 

[paddock36]

Quote:
I didn't do that with mine and it works fine.