incubator ideas! post your ideas for home made incubators, whether they work or not~

[galanie]

galanie,  I have personally never used a wafer as I prefer HW's. If you ever take apart a HW thermostat you will find a small "wafer" if that's what you want to call it. You can look on the back side of the HW and look through the biggest hole in the metal part . there's a small symbal shaped piece of metal that pops back and forth with the heat and makes and breaks the contacts of the thermostat. You can put a small screwdriver bit through the hole and push on this thing and it will bounce back as you let go. That's what will turn your light bulb on and off.

Understood, but when referring to it when talking to others, it sounds confusing to say you put the wafer here or there unless you're talking about a wafer thermostat which is not the same as a hot water heater one and doesn't need the fiddling with that the HW one does. This is what I meant.

And in response to the "does it work" question by kellyn, I get pretty much the same success with mine as anyone does. Up to 50% with shipped eggs and around 98% with non-shipped eggs.

 

[3forfree]

here's a pic of a wafer thermostat


You know what a HW thermostat looks like so you can see that they are different. The round thing in the middle is called the WAFER. Inside the HW thermostat is also a wafer but lots smaller than this one. Both do the same thing, expand and contract with the heat and make and break a set of contacts to turn on and off whatever heat source you're using. By modifying the HW thermostat and putting it close to the heat source it can be very consistant on the temps, I have used a modified HW thermostat and my temps didn't vary by more that a 1/2 degree.

 

[kellyn]

Quote:
I usually get a 99% hatch rate out of the incubators I build.... But then I have been hatching chickens,ducks,turkeys and guineas for 40 years

Could you... maybe... post a picture of whre you put your heating elements?

 

[galanie]

here's a pic of a wafer thermostat


You know what a HW thermostat looks like so you can see that they are different. The round thing in the middle is called the WAFER. Inside the HW thermostat is also a wafer but lots smaller than this one. Both do the same thing, expand and contract with the heat and make and break a set of contacts to turn on and off whatever heat source you're using. By modifying the HW thermostat and putting it close to the heat source it can be very consistant on the temps, I have used a modified HW thermostat and my temps didn't vary by more that a 1/2 degree.

I know what one looks like but others might not so thank you for the picture. This is what one normally means when they talk about putting the "wafer" somewhere, this type of thermostat. At least in past threads about it they did. As I've said, mine has 1 degree or less variance too with the HW heater one, placed with the back close to the bulb. You do have to fiddle with it to get it right but do let them sit 24 hours once you think it might be about on it to be sure.

 

[fried green eggs]

Looks very nice, I hope you get many good hatches from this incubator.



Just a tip, during the summer if you are incubating, you will need to move your incubator.

Right there in front of the air conditioner is a bad place for an incubator.


I don't know how well the seal is on your plexi glass door, but I recommend getting some foam tape. If you go to the hardware store, and ask for it, they will show you exactly where it is.

I still don't know what it is called, but I am pretty sure it is used to sealing doors and windows. I have never had to use it on anything other than sealing my cabinet incubator door.

Thanks. I will move bator location if we will be using the AC unit this Summer

and hatching eggs. I did use the window weather sealant tape, around the access door and made sure the seal was good. It seems to be working good - the bulbs turn on for about 20 sec. and then off for 2 1/2 minutes before they turn on again.
I have the computer fan wired so it only runs when the lights are on so, I have my thermostat set to hold temp at 100 degrees because it's a part time still air set up - Does this sound right? My Internal egg temp monitor seems to be staying at 99.7 - 99.8 degrees and humidity at 29% - to 30% Is that Ok?

 

[fried green eggs]

By saying "wafer" when referring to a hot water heater thermostat you're confusing me a bit because there are hot water heater thermostats and then there are wafer thermostats. I refer only to the lower hot water heater thermostat. I'm assuming by "wafer" you mean the metal back of it? As for the video referred to later, I'm not sure which you mean since the one in my sig doesn't refer to drilling any holes in anything. But if you really had the back of the thing as close as 1" to the bulb and experienced wide swings, either it was a bad one or you didn't wait long enough. Incubators often have wide temp swings the first 24 hours. This is why it's recommended to set one up and run it at least 24 hours before you use it. Mine does as well. After it has run a day or so, it levels out. If you try to keep messing with it before then you'll drive yourself nuts. Give it more time.
On the other hand, I understand your frustration. Been there.

I was referring to the back of the water heater thermostat. I didn't let it run for a full day between moving the distance from light bulbs maybe 6 - 8 hours? If I build another bator down the road - I may try a new water heater thermostat again and will try to remember to give it more time.

 

[quintinp]

I was referring to the back of the water heater thermostat. I didn't let it run for a full day between moving the distance from light bulbs maybe 6 - 8 hours? If I build another bator down the road - I may try a new water heater thermostat again and will try to remember to give it more time.

I usually let my incubator stabilize for about 3 hours, before it is ready. I have everything set with mine though. I knew what you meant by wafer when you were talking about having to fiddle with moving the water heater thermostat. Yeah, I guess you COULD have been a little more specific, but you already mentioned you were using a water heater thermostat.

 

[mayberrygirl]

My digital thermostat will be here next week, I will have to wait till the eggs I have in the bator hatch cause I will only be on day 11. When I do install in in the bator where in relation to my light bulbs shoud I place the sensor?

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

Mayberrygirl I attached my sensor with a suction cup thingy at the same height as my eggs. I tried putting it closer to the light bulb but it had to much of a swing. That could be cause I also have two 4 x 20 inch pieces of flex watt tape across the bottom. I don't use the light bulb in the summer only for winter hatches.

 

[kellyn]

I rearranged my turner so I can actually reach my eggs without cutting open my hand. Isn't that great? And it'll b easier to turn them as well and I can fit a GQF turner onto the bottom. And also instead of a 2-6 degree difference between racks, it's only 1-2 degres! My incubator stays at abooout 100-102.

I hatched 29/75 button quail eggs in it, with like 20% humidity. I had 3 stick and that was about it. I did eggtopsies and 5 died before pipping; 7 or 8 a few days before pipping and the rest were I suppose duds. Most were rather dirty a.d I had quite a few temperature spikes. I think it did good! I already put about 90 more in. I can't really do anything with button quail eggs BESIDES hatching them.

So far I've hatched 8; 12; and 29 button quail. 1 duck and 5 chickens in the last 2 weeks. I only lost 2 buttons and that would've made th first 8, 10.

That's out of aboout... 150 butons... 35 chickens and 3 ducks. I had 3 guinea eggs as well, but they dint make it.

And I hatched 1 coturnix quail. That's late February/March's eggs.

I sound like an idiot, I'm sure, but I figure it this way: it either hatches or not. If it does, yippie! If it doesn't, *curses* and I move stuff around.

My second incubator I'm going to rewire. Aaand, adjust the temperatures.

My WH thermostat works decently well; enough that my temps have not dropped below 95* unlss I screw around with my eggs or something like that.

I have no fear when candling my eggs; if they get a bit cold, it won't hurt em. Coz if you think about it, the hen leaves her nest for at least 30 minutes each day to eat and do whatever. 'Course they get a bit cold.