Currently, I have 50 Coturnix Quail eggs that are 24 hours old (purchased and selected in person at a breeder), kept in a vertical position with pointy side down waiting to be put into my incubator. I have two thermometers/humidity meters in the incubator, at two spots. They are reading slightly off from each other, but similar - about 1 degree and 1% off when sitting on table next to each other before placement in incubator. My incubator is homemade since I am doing this with my 11yo child and putting it together is a good learning experience, but I've been fine tuning it for several days and it seems like it should work out ok without cooking the eggs. The heat source is a 25 Watt lightbulb. I have 1/4" hardware cloth lining the bottom and this is elevated with some stones beneath the hardware cloth to help keep temps from falling too much (or for faster temp recovery) when it is opened for turning. I added a heat shield in front of the bulb since the temp was very high where eggs would sit in front of the bulb. No eggs will be beneath the bulb - I partitioned off that area of the incubator. See pics for more detail. One pic is looking through plexiglass window, next is with the lid removed.
Temp Question: Will my temp be OK? One thermometer is registering (at lowest point and nearest the heat source on other side of heat shield) reading 100F consistently. The other one is at 98F, however it is the farthest from the heat source and higher than where the eggs will be. The 25w is giving the closest temp at 100F closer to heat source, and it stays that temp consistently. I've tried 40w (much too hot - I got up to 111F then removed the bulb!). Also, tried 40w Eco bulb and this ran approx 103-105F as it uses less electricity. I've tried clear bulbs and soft-white but the same temp obtained for the same wattage, irregardless of clear or white bulb.
Egg Position: In pics you will see the cardboard trays. My plan is to add eggs and stack. Rotate 3x per day with top moving to bottom and both rotated 180 degrees. There is a piece of wood in place to support the trays on an approx 45 degree angle. I figured I could do this quickly and get top open and closed within a very short time. Concerned about mold growth and contamination overall, I did bake the paper tray in a 200F oven for approx 25 min to at least kill off some organisms. Additionally, I briefly researched mold growth/relative humidity/temp and looks ok for the 100F at 35-40% humidity target. Once they go to "lockdown" the tray is removed when humidity is increased, so the trays will no longer be in there. HOWEVER, should I use the paper trays or NOT? I could put all eggs on bottom of incubator and try to roll them (in a horizontal position) 3x per day, but concerned that all will not get rolled and this will be rougher on the eggs as I have 50 of them! Which is better? Any experience here?
Humidity note: Still working on this. I have gotten it as high as 60+ percent, with an open water container and sponge. However, to keep it at 35-45% is a little more challenging. I have a container with a lid and some holes poked in and it has gotten to 33%, so I am close to success. I just added stiff watercolor paper as a thin "wick" and this may increase it just that little extra - waiting to see.
Comments and Experience Please!
Temp Question: Will my temp be OK? One thermometer is registering (at lowest point and nearest the heat source on other side of heat shield) reading 100F consistently. The other one is at 98F, however it is the farthest from the heat source and higher than where the eggs will be. The 25w is giving the closest temp at 100F closer to heat source, and it stays that temp consistently. I've tried 40w (much too hot - I got up to 111F then removed the bulb!). Also, tried 40w Eco bulb and this ran approx 103-105F as it uses less electricity. I've tried clear bulbs and soft-white but the same temp obtained for the same wattage, irregardless of clear or white bulb.
Egg Position: In pics you will see the cardboard trays. My plan is to add eggs and stack. Rotate 3x per day with top moving to bottom and both rotated 180 degrees. There is a piece of wood in place to support the trays on an approx 45 degree angle. I figured I could do this quickly and get top open and closed within a very short time. Concerned about mold growth and contamination overall, I did bake the paper tray in a 200F oven for approx 25 min to at least kill off some organisms. Additionally, I briefly researched mold growth/relative humidity/temp and looks ok for the 100F at 35-40% humidity target. Once they go to "lockdown" the tray is removed when humidity is increased, so the trays will no longer be in there. HOWEVER, should I use the paper trays or NOT? I could put all eggs on bottom of incubator and try to roll them (in a horizontal position) 3x per day, but concerned that all will not get rolled and this will be rougher on the eggs as I have 50 of them! Which is better? Any experience here?
Humidity note: Still working on this. I have gotten it as high as 60+ percent, with an open water container and sponge. However, to keep it at 35-45% is a little more challenging. I have a container with a lid and some holes poked in and it has gotten to 33%, so I am close to success. I just added stiff watercolor paper as a thin "wick" and this may increase it just that little extra - waiting to see.
Comments and Experience Please!
