homemade incubator temp help

[jimma207]

I have made a cooler type modeled after the gopher bator. I have been running it for a few days, I have the humidity figured out a 50%. I have the same problems with thermometers like others. I have made a water wiggler, and the temp does stay within 1 degree(98.6-99.8, but my temps in the bator go from 98-103, I cant seem get it any better with the water heater thermostat. I want to put my eggs in tomorrow is this a mistake, should I continue to play with it? also I have my vents pretty much closed. I have a built in turner, should I just open to let in fresh air every so often.? thanks so much.

 

[chickenlittle32]

I'd leave the vents open...the eggs need fresh air circulated in and the stale air to go out...Also...I'd make sure you get the temps just right and then add the eggs...

 

[jimma207]

I have been playing with this temperature for days, cant get it to stay at 99.5 but have got it to stay rock solid at 101. I am anxious to get my eggs in, the humidity is perfect at 50%, it does have a fan , will It be bad to go with it at 101? help thanks.

 

[chickenlittle32]

yes, 101 is ok...My homemade is set at the same temp...Put the eggs in! lol

 

[tammyd57]

I would think the temp. in the water wiggler would be the more accurate since it reflects what the true temp. inside an egg would be. The air temp. isn't as important as what temp. the eggs are. Am I right? I'm building my own bator right now and all the reading I've done about it leads me in this direction.

 

[Chickenfarmer 1-2-b]

I also built a bator myself. I use the water heater thermostat from Home Depot. The first time I tried it, tempt fluctuates quite a bit, about atleast 5 degrees swing. I went back to HD and bought another water heater thermostat, it has been working perfectly, only 2 degrees swing in the ambient temperature. The temperature in the water wiggler stays at 99.1-99.3. I guess not all thermostats are equal.

 

[Asantoni]

I just recently finished hatching my first batch of eggs with a home made bator. I used a styrofoam cooler with glass window on top and front, a 15 year old water heater thermostat, a heating element from an easy bake oven (100 watts) along with two 12 Volt PC fans. It drove me nuts that the temperature inside the incubator would swing all over the place (94~104 using a digital Radio Shack thermostat), even adding water to increase humidity would change the thermostat set point. Although the huge temp swings, I still managed to hatch 5 healthy chicks out 9 eggs that were set (RIR rooster, NHR hen) I guess my point is although we may become obsessed with controlling tight temperature ranges inside the bators, mother nature allows for some fairly wide temperature swings. I did open up the 4 eggs that did not hatch, 3 were not fertile and the fourth one had a fully formed baby chick inside that just never peeped and died. Overall, I believe it was a pretty good success rate given the thermostat. Also, did I mention we lost power for about 3 hours 14 days into the incubation period. I would like to use a thermostat that has a tighter temperature control for my next batch but have not seen anything I like yet. I guess it's just like Chickenfarmer 1-2-b said "not all thermostats are equal" Best of luck with your hatch, it is extremely additive.

 

[patandchickens]

Your water-wiggler temp is the one that needs to be steady; what you've got should be good enough, as long as this is forced-air and there are no "hot spots" (e.g. from lightbulb shining directly on eggs close to it).

If you have any room to add additional jars of water or cool-paks, for thermal mass, that will help stabilize it too (not *right* next to the lightbulb though). If you want to fiddle with it a while longer before setting your eggs, adding more insulation on the outside will probably also help stabilize it (don't cover the ventilation holes!).

But, what you've got will probably be ok. Remember that the first few hatches (at least) will be "learning experiences".

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Billjr]

Your average temp is 100.5. That is good. For future reference .
I did'nt take it apart. I just drilled the holes were indicated. Be careful not to push too hard and damage the diaphram inside.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification

 

[jimma207]

thanks for all the feedback. I have added a small heat shield (alluminum step flashing) next to the bulb, which I increased to a 52 watt bulb from 40, drilled out the thermostat as described above, and attached it to a scrap piece of wire mesh(4*4 inch) and now have all vent holes open, and the water wiggler(homemade with ballon and plastic egg) stay between 99.5 and 100. The air temp in the bator only fluxuates slightly more. I am completely happy now. I dont think I can do any better. I am on day 3, cant wait to candle, and am looking forward to my next battle of trying to raise the humidity past 50% where I have it now, as I have gone to extreme measures of a pan as large as I can fit, with sponges piled as high as I could to get it there.