I built an Incubator - TEST HATCH COMPLETE

[cdeans]

it looks great

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Whats the night light for?

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
to see the eggs when the heat source is off.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

How does that affect the temp? My first incubator was about 2/3s that size an I heated the hole thing by a similar sized 12V DC bulb on a thermostat.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Well it has been running for several hours now. I have it in a large closet in the basement. The humidity is naturally higher down there and the temperature is very constant (no sunlight or heat vents).

It is fluctuating between 98 and 100 degrees right now. Yes I sit there and track when the heat source goes off and on. I have not been able to get a water wiggler. So I took two butter bowls, filled them with water and put the probe between them. The probe started at 80 degrees and has come upt to 95 degrees. I am hoping this will work.

I saved some of my eggs from today. If everything remains steady over night, I am going to put some eggs in it tomorrow morning to do a dry run.

The night light does not seem to affect anything. But when the heat source (light bulb) is off, I can still read the termometers.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Temp sounds good. You should get great hatches out of it. I think building them your self makes each hatch more rewarding. Good luck!

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds like you are on your way, then, Ed. Good work! And you dont have to have a water wiggler; it's just a tool that can help us understand that the internal egg temps do not fluctuate as quickly as the air temp will; therefore, you wont be tempted to adjust the thermostat so much.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Well overnight, it maintained. The max and min were both in a good range. I think we are set. I did have to take water back out of the plate. Once I moved it downstairs, where the natural humidity is higher, the himidity in the bator went to 65%. I removed the water and all is good.

So this afternoon, I am going to put in the following:

2 Bantam Egg, Hen is Silkie or Cochin and the Roo is Silkie or Cochin.
2 White Eggs - Hen is Brown or White Leghorn and the Roo is White Leghorn.
4 Brown Eggs - Hen is Producion Red or SexLink or Jersey Giant and the Roo is White Leghorn.

These are really for a test run before getting some BBS Orpingtons (YEAH!!!!!) and some Barred Rocks from SpeckledHen. Oh and one or two from Meg. Can't wait!!

 

[amyquilt]

Quote:
OH I love the window on the side! I made a MissPrissy bator and it's working well, but after it's empty, I think I need to add the side window!

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds great, Ed! Let us know along the way how it goes for you.