HovaBator - Lack of power?

[SkeeredChicken]

I assemled my own incubator from a 70 quart cooler, and 2 60 watt bulbs. I think the 2 bulbs might over power the incubator after the lid is closed. That's after turning eggs. But it then stabilizes and keeps around a constant temp.

However, my dad bought a HovaBator, because he was afraid mine would catch fire. I think I've noticed that compared to my Home Brewed incubator, the HovaBator seems a tad bit under powered on the heating element. Especially during winter as it is now. I dont know what it is, but that pilot light has been on all night.

I've been using both mine and the HovaBator. Mine for my chicken eggs, and the other for quail eggs. So far I've notice that almost all of my quail eggs haven't grown. Am I just an amateur, or does anyone agree that the Hovebator's heat element needs a little more help?

 

[JamesC]

SkeeredChicken:
All of the small table top incubators are very sensitive to the ambient temperature. They operate well if you have them set up in a room that has a constant temperature, 70F is recommended but as long as it's reasonably warm and constant they operate well. There should be no drafts nor direct sunlight. What temp do you get and what is the fluctuation, if any? What temperature is the room where you have it set up?
I'm not suggesting they're perfect, you might have one that is faulty.

I have been using one since the early 80's and it's still going. I now have 2 newer styrofoam models and use them almost exclusively for hatching because they're reliable and keep the temperature pretty constant. Having separate hatchers also allows me to set eggs every week in the larger Marsh Roll-X's.

James