Homemade Incubator Design

[mossypath]

I was wondering if anyone has tried to make a Incubator from something ceramic. I have a flue from a fireplace that I was thinking about using. It would take a while to heat up but once it got going it could potently hold an even heat and would not cool down like a cooler when opened, it would recover faster.
It is a high fire clay stoneware body so it should clean up nicely and not wick water. It would be fire proof. I have the tools to work with stone so cutting and drilling holes should not be a problem.
The outside could be in covered in insulation.
Do you see any down sides I haven’t considered yet?

 

[matlock585]

Is it like the orange colored square sections? Do you have a picture of it? It sounds like it would work fine, but isn't that like an 8" square? No doubt the heat would hold great in there, but it seems like a lot of work to set it all up.
I love my styro cooler incubator. I could push a coat hanger through it easily then put a zip tie to hold things up and mount them to the walls. It works great. When I open the top to turn the eggs my temp is recovered within an hour or so.

 

[quintinp]

It think that the ancient methods of hatching eggs were something like this, but instead of using fire, they used hot manure to heat it from the outside.

 

[matlock585]

Hey Quintin... I'm glad you posted here. Can you link me to the modifications you make to the water heater thermostats? I searched on it but I found a lot of variations.
Mine is still doing good as it is, but I'm just curious to see what is done. I'm thinking about making a separate hatcher. And also considering it for my brooder so I can decrease the heat as they grow.
Sam

 

[quintinp]

Okay. I will.

 

[mossypath]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/174944/homemade-incubator-thermostat/70
Is this what you are looking for?

 

[mossypath]

This is what I tried with my first and it helped a lot.

This time I am trying the Repti Temp 500R thermostat.

 

[matlock585]

I am using a water heater thermostat, but I didn't modify it. I had a terribly hard time getting everything right, but since then it runs just fine. My temp only varies when I open it, then it recovers soon enough. My live feed of my bator is in my signature, but right now it's primarily just so I can see it while I'm gone at work and keep my mind at ease about it.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I am using a water heater thermostat, but I didn't modify it. I had a terribly hard time getting everything right, but since then it runs just fine. My temp only varies when I open it, then it recovers soon enough. My live feed of my bator is in my signature, but right now it's primarily just so I can see it while I'm gone at work and keep my mind at ease about it.

Your bator cam require signing up? The link takes me to a sign up page.

 

[matlock585]

No, you should just be able to view it. Try this one. www.mycampage.com/batorcam It's all new to me. I just came in and caught the temp at 102. Hopefully that was a fluke, I opened my vent back up. Guess if the temp rides ok i'll break down and put some water in there.