Home made incubator

[Cajun Chooks]

FINALLY got my incubator up and running.It stays at 99-100 then drops to 96-97.Thinking of putting some water bottles in to help keep temperature up when the light cuts off.Would this work?

Did you get a fan yet? You really need a fan to help even out the temps.
Did you also drill the holes in the thermostat? It helps to reduce the temp swings.
Do you have 1 light wired to stay on constantly and the other operated by the T-stat? This is the easiest solution to temp swings and in my opinion is a must.
Is the T-stat mounted within an inch or 2 from the light? It works off of radiant heat not air temp, try moving it closer or farther away till it maintains a constant temp.
Heat sinks are good to reduce heat lost when it's opened and any solid object will work, paint a bowling ball to look like a fried egg and you'll be fine.

Post a pic and we'll go from there.

Happy Hatching but patience till then.

 

[3forfree]

I used bottled water the last time I hatched for a heat sync and they seemed to work ok. I'm doing a dry hatch this time and I'm not using any water for humidity. I did put some in when it dropped to 25 that was 3 days ago, haven't added any since.

 

[Cajun Chooks]

I used bottled water the last time I hatched for a heat sync and they seemed to work ok. I'm doing a dry hatch this time and I'm not using any water for humidity. I did put some in when it dropped to 25 that was 3 days ago, haven't added any since.

That bowling ball comment was a joke, anything solid will work including bottles of water. I think you'll like the dry hatch method better, it's not as messy and I've had great hatches. I don't worry about adding water till it drops below 25% and then I just add a few drops of water to bring it up a little. Most of the time it stays around 30-35% because of the humidity in the room unless the heat is on in the house.

 

[crissycriss]

Did you get a fan yet? You really need a fan to help even out the temps.
Did you also drill the holes in the thermostat? It helps to reduce the temp swings.
Do you have 1 light wired to stay on constantly and the other operated by the T-stat? This is the easiest solution to temp swings and in my opinion is a must.
Is the T-stat mounted within an inch or 2 from the light? It works off of radiant heat not air temp, try moving it closer or farther away till it maintains a constant temp.
Heat sinks are good to reduce heat lost when it's opened and any solid object will work, paint a bowling ball to look like a fried egg and you'll be fine. 

Post a pic and we'll go from there.

Happy Hatching but patience till then.

Hi, yes i've put in a fan.I have it blowing across the light and t-stat.No i havent drilled holes in the t-stat yet i dont have a drill bit small enough so im going to put some river rock in the bottom to see if that holds heat,if that dont then ill see about getting a drill bit. No i only have one light wired to the t-stat but ill see if i have another light fixture to add. Also will try to add picture next time i go to my sisters dont have internet at home. Thanks for all yalls help couldnt do it without yall here on BYC.

 

[kapie9969]

Yes ive drilled the holes in the thermostat,four of them and it works better.I use a solid brick as a heat sink.Ive considered the second light idea,mostly for a backup,but if its lower in wattage and stays on it may help out with keeping the temp. right.
My humidity has stayed around 45 because i have a humidifier on a timer for the inside of our home.It helps keep people from getting sick in the winter.Other wise its really dry here in az.
Im ambitious,ive got quail eggs coming.Im also considering the fertile eggs from a store idea,that way i get either leghorns or mabe a sort of sexlink.Im hoping they well make it through the cold weather so ive got new layers for the spring.
So ive been playing around with my incubator getting it ready for my eggs that are coming.Right now my bator is at 101.1,wich isnt bad considering i hatched my first eggs with the temp. swinging from 98 to 102,and had an over fifty percent hatch.

 

[crissycriss]

Wow that sounds pretty good to me.Im not expecting a great hatch but hope to have atleast 2.I will be trying duck eggs.Wish i had someone close by that i could trade eggs with.I would love some cambells for egg laying.I got my 2nd light in and and the river rocks.So far my temp is 99-100 staying steady fingers crossed that it stays steady. Humidity is 50 percent.

 

[crissycriss]

Pooh my temp drops to 96 still.Guess i will get a small bit and go to drilling.How do yall drill threw the metal on the t-stat?

 

[crissycriss]

...

Pooh my temp drops to 96 still.Guess i will get a small bit and go to drilling.How do yall drill threw the metal on the t-stat?[/quote
Ok i got the drill bit and drilled 3holes in it.Hopefully this works. Thanks everyone far all your help!! ]

 

[crissycriss]

So my bator drops down to 90-92 degrees since it cooled down some. Why is the t-stat not kicking on before the temp drops so low?I have 2 lights one is on all the time.I drilled 4 holes in t-stat.I have 7 river rocks and a bottle of water to try to help hold heat.Maybe i dont have the right bulb in the one that stays on.what watt should i use?I have my t-stat about 1-2 inches from the light.Tomorrow i am going to tape styrofoam insulation around the bator,top& bottom.Do any of you have anymore suggestions? I am about ready to just give up.

 

[SilverDuck284]

Is the T-stat positioned so that the metal side is facing the bulb? And within 2 inches of the bulb? How high does it get before it turns off? You may just have to tweak the temp on the t-stat.