Homemade incubator help please

[olesmokey88]

I made a homemade incubator out of a storage tote. I wrapped the inside with a windshield sun protector and heat tape. I done a dry incubation then I had 27 eggs go into lock down and i upped the humidity the humidity went up to 70-75% everything looked good i left for work at 5 that evening came home at 11 that night and the humidity was at 69-75 still good BUT my entire incubator was fogged up so bad couldn't see anything inside well I figured it was to late to do anything so i left it alone. So on day 20 i had one hatch on day 21 had 8 hatch and day 22 had 2 hatch. After all was said and done my humidity had raised to 90-97%. Then on day 25 I candled and all the others had died all the chicks that hatched were sticky and took them near 4 days to fluff which indicates the humidity was to low right ? I'm so confused on this matter lol. I've got 42 eggs waiting to go in the bator right now and I want to get this sorted out before putting any more in there .

P.s for my water source I'm using an aluminum pan in the bottom of my bator beside the heat sources

Thanks for any advice and words of wisdom
David

 

[cameronfarm]

Sounds like you need to add ventilation holes, way to much humidity. Do you have a picture of your setup? I have never been a fan of homemade incubators, especially with the little ones going for $60 +/-.

 

[olesmokey88]

 

[olesmokey88]

 

[cameronfarm]

That looks pretty cool Definitely need to add ventilation vents. When hatching humidity increases and you need to open the vents to keep it under control, there should also be a small amount of ventilation during incubation. You can grab the instructions for a variety of incubators which each have their own control methods to handle each of these.

 

[olesmokey88]

I added four 3/4 vents in the top on lockdown day I plan to add four more on the sides I have five 1/4 holes drilled on the sides now and I have a little giant still air that I've hatched a lot of babies out of but now as I'm older I like to challenge my self lol.

Thanks for the reply

 

[cameronfarm]

My old school cabinets have 1-1/4" holes with slides over them. I rebuilt them using copper flashing. Might be worth considering, easy to do and give you easy control. If you want let me know and I can post some pictures.

 

[olesmokey88]

That'd be cool if ya could in the big vents on top I cut out some plexiglass and put a screw and a spring so I can twist them to cover the vents ill post a pic of that as soon as I get home

 

[olesmokey88]

In an incubator this big should I use 2 fans ?

 

[olesmokey88]

Anybody have an opinion ?