- Thread starter
- #71
That's weird. Why wouldn't it go to St. Louis instead? Weird...
Homemade Incubator - Temperature/Thermostat Problems!
- Thread starter ContessaKris
- Start date
Quote:
Remember that it takes a while for temperature changes to the air inside of the bator to actually affect the temperature inside the egg. Think of how long it takes the eggs to come up to temp when you put them inside the bator - it can be up to 24 hours for a bator full of large eggs. So if your temperatures are fluctuating a few degrees every couple of minutes, it's very likely that the actual inside temperature of the egg will only vary by a few tenths of a degree. But if your temps are fluctuating a few degrees every few hours and staying high or low for a couple of hours each time, that IS going to affect the inside of the egg.
An air temp of 105 for a few minutes is not going to kill an egg, but an INTERNAL temp of 105 very definitely will.
A good thing to get for a bator is a digital thermometer that records max and min temperatures so you can see what your fluctuations are. Make sure it has a probe, and put the probe inside a toy 'water wiggler' (available cheaply on Amazon) that you will sit inside your bator at the same level as your eggs. This is much better than a thermometer that reads max/min air temperatures, as it's actually reading the max/min temps inside your 'egg'.
I have a homemade still air styro box with two hanging lightbulbs and a cheap adjustable thermostat, and a min/max thermometer hanging in the bator measures highs of 104 and lows of 96. But the internal egg temp is MUCH more stable and once the thermostat is adjusted correctly the whole setup works great. I currently have some duck eggs in it on day 17 and they're progressing nicely...
Remember that it takes a while for temperature changes to the air inside of the bator to actually affect the temperature inside the egg. Think of how long it takes the eggs to come up to temp when you put them inside the bator - it can be up to 24 hours for a bator full of large eggs. So if your temperatures are fluctuating a few degrees every couple of minutes, it's very likely that the actual inside temperature of the egg will only vary by a few tenths of a degree. But if your temps are fluctuating a few degrees every few hours and staying high or low for a couple of hours each time, that IS going to affect the inside of the egg.
An air temp of 105 for a few minutes is not going to kill an egg, but an INTERNAL temp of 105 very definitely will.
A good thing to get for a bator is a digital thermometer that records max and min temperatures so you can see what your fluctuations are. Make sure it has a probe, and put the probe inside a toy 'water wiggler' (available cheaply on Amazon) that you will sit inside your bator at the same level as your eggs. This is much better than a thermometer that reads max/min air temperatures, as it's actually reading the max/min temps inside your 'egg'.
I have a homemade still air styro box with two hanging lightbulbs and a cheap adjustable thermostat, and a min/max thermometer hanging in the bator measures highs of 104 and lows of 96. But the internal egg temp is MUCH more stable and once the thermostat is adjusted correctly the whole setup works great. I currently have some duck eggs in it on day 17 and they're progressing nicely...
- Thread starter
- #74
I think I've got it right now! I tweaked temps yet again last night and then let it run all night. The temps are staying at 100 and 99 respectively and don't deviate much off those numbers even when the incubator goes off. I did have to remove the jars of water w/sponges as they were driving the humidity to 62% and up. Without the jars its about 42%. I unplugged the holes on the sides and I think it will bring the humidity level down a bit more. We'll see. I can put the jars back in on day 18.
So, I think I'm ready for those eggs to arrive. Talk about last minute!
Gypsy07 - thanks for the info on internal temperature. That makes me feel better.
djennings - your little silkies are adorable!
So, I think I'm ready for those eggs to arrive. Talk about last minute!
Gypsy07 - thanks for the info on internal temperature. That makes me feel better.
djennings - your little silkies are adorable!
Nothing like having to work under pressure huh. Glad you got it. SO have you started on a bigger one yet
. Do you have eggs?
- Thread starter
- #77
Quote:
Well, considering we're only 'allowed' to have 2 chickens and I've ordered 12+ eggs, I don't think I should be starting on a bigger one anytime soon. lol Hubby would have my head!
Well, considering we're only 'allowed' to have 2 chickens and I've ordered 12+ eggs, I don't think I should be starting on a bigger one anytime soon. lol Hubby would have my head!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification ................ look at this link it worked for me
I started reading this thread to learn about thermostats in incubators, but after reading all 8 pages of posts I want to know how the hatch went. I need some closure!
Yes! What happened?!?
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