Homemade incubator help

[zoey@tipp's chicks]

Do you just place the eggs on the wire mesh in the cooler?
Do you have to have a fan?
As long as it is between 99.5 and 101.5 it is ok?
50-60% humidity?
Thanks.

 

[pefferlawchicken]

yes you place the eggs on the wire
you dont have to have a fan
yes those temps are fine , perferably 101F
50 - 60 % after day 18 but before day 18 35 - 45 % humidity



hope the hatch works out , plus you want vent hole in the bator

 

[pefferlawchicken]

welcome to BYC

 

[zoey@tipp's chicks]

Thanks for the reply. Also, do you turn the eggs over like roll them a 1/2 a turn each time?

 

[AK Michelle]

I hope it's ok if I tag along on your "help" request. I built one too (I'll get the pics loaded after work today. The temp wasn't coming up enough but I could see where one side wasn't getting a good seal with the lid so I draped a towel over that edge. Heat is rising now. But the humidity is too high. I'm gonna take out the pie pan of water and try using just a cup. We shall see.... I might have to go with a bigger bulb and more ventilation. I have a 25 watt in there now but I think if I add ventilation it won't be hot enough to keep the temp up.

Thanks for listening to me ramble..... I'm too excited this morning!!
Michelle

 

[AK Michelle]

BTW, Hi Zoey,

Glad to see I'm not the only newbie floundering along....

Are you going to set eggs this weekend?

Michelle

 

[zoey@tipp's chicks]

We have a very excited two year old and five year old that can't wait to put the eggs in the incubator and have chicks. We also have a hen setting for the first time. So maybe one way or the other they can raise their first chicks.

 

[jvls1942]

If you guys/gals are opening your bators to turn eggs, vent holes are not too important as you will be giving the eggs a shot of fresh air eac time you open the bator..

You should not adjust the temp and humidity at the same time.. do one and then the other.. each adjustment will affect the other..

give it at least a half hour to an hour to respond.. more or less; according to your bator..

 

[AK Michelle]

I think I got al the bugs worked out. Picked up the eggs and got them set. So now we wait!

Michelle

 

[AK Michelle]

Hey Zoey,

Here's the bator we made

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=25270-home-made-brooder

Do you have pictures of yours?

This is day 1 for us, When did you set yours?

Michelle