Home Made Incubator

[lighthousechick]

I built an incubator from a 10 gallon fish tank. I have it set up with a water heater thermostat, computer fan, and a 60 watt bulb. The thing is, I dunno if it's dumb luck, but my temp in my dummy egg (blown egg filled with gel) is staying at 99F, and the digital thermometer stays at 101.3 The thermostat never shuts the light off. I know it works, because when I unplug the fan, about 2 minutes after, the thermostat shuts the light off. I plug the fan back in and within 30 seconds, the light is back on. Did I totally luck out, or am I over-looking something? I ran the incubator for 3 hrs tonight, and that's the temp that it reached, and that's where it stayed.

 

[Knittycat]

Well, you know the thermostat will shut off the bulb if it reaches it's threshold. Try leaving everything on longer, all day or all day and all night, and see what happens. If you are still concerned, try moving the thermostat closer to the bulb (if you can) to see what happens. If everything kicks on an off as it is supposed to, I'd say you got lucky buster

 

[Knittycat]

double post. sorry.

 

[lighthousechick]

Ok good. Tomorrow, I shall plug it in, and leave it for 24 hrs. Gosh, I hope I got it. I read to many threads on here from people having problems. I am nervous. LOL

 

[Knittycat]

Me too. My eggs get here tomorrow, and I have to wait until Monday to set them at my daughter's school. I don't know if I can manage that.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[lighthousechick]

Oh wow! Good luck to you. I am hatching my own. I have 2 from today, and hopefully I can get at least one a day for the next few days. Then, I can start them Thursday if all goes well.

 

[lighthousechick]

I forgot to update this. We decided to build a cooler bator. The temp in the aquarium wouldn't stay close enough. But, everything is a go, and expecting chicks on the 15th!