How would you improve this incubator?

[Majikthise]

We made an incubator out of stuff around the garage. The light is one of those incense lamps that you put a plate on top with oils in it, and has a dial to control how hot it is. We spent $5 on a thermometer, but that was it. I guess we will see if it works in a few weeks. Keeping the temp at 99*

We had not really planned on getting eggs, but my 7 year old raised his hand at the auction and the auctioneer counted him lol oh well, lesson learned. We made this in a pinch to get them in since we have no clue how old the eggs are.

They are a bunch of white silkies (and a few from our hen)... at least they were cheap. The parents sitting behind us told me that we got off easy, and their 2 year old bought them 100 chicks their first time.

Please let me know if you have suggestions to improve this incubator.

 

[NinjaRooster]

Wow it looks great! Gotta love auctions.

You might add another thermometer or two, just to get a comparison between a few readings. I just use whatever is cheep .

Does the fan bring air from outside in or does it just circulate it inside? It looks really close to the wall. Nice and clean setup! Mine was a rats nest of wires.

 

[NinjaRooster]

Also, the eggs closest to the heat source will be warmer than the eggs in the corner. Is there something you could use as a shield from direct radiant heat from the light to the closest eggs?

 

[Majikthise]

The fan is about an inch away from the wall and circulates the air inside. We thought the glass of the lamp might be enough barrier, but if you think I should add foil or something I will. I like the idea of more thermometers, and want digital ones since they would be easier to read.

The wires were threaded through the drain hole. Super easy set up

 

[NinjaRooster]

I think a sheet of foil wouldn't hurt. Then again, it might not matter one way or the other. ok, now I undedstand the fan more clearly. It looked really close at first glance.

 

[Daedalus62]

If that's an oil burning lamp, you might want to make some holes for (much) better air circulation... That open flame is going to use up oxygen pretty fast... My 2 cents...

Good luck

 

[Majikthise]

Oh no, it is an electric fragrance oil warmer http://cf.mp-cdn.net/3b/c0/aaf368ececd1b19cac3b3da32273.jpg l<-- ike this

It has a halogen light bulb in it

 

[Fred's Hens]

No thermostat? Just a dimmer/rheostat on the lamp?

 

[Daedalus62]

Oh no, it is an electric fragrance oil warmer http://cf.mp-cdn.net/3b/c0/aaf368ececd1b19cac3b3da32273.jpg l<-- ike this

It has a halogen light bulb in it

Oh... OK, I misunderstood... That's way better.

Good luck with your hatch, hopefully your 7 year old had a good hunch.

Cheers

 

[Majikthise]

No thermostat? Just a dimmer/rheostat on the lamp?

For now, yes. However we found a really good air conditioning thermostat in our garage that we want to trade out with our current one, and then put the old thermostat in the incubator. Do you think that will work? We have been lucky to keep the temp right for this long, it is a lot tetchier than I thought it would be.