Incubator ideas???

[jsvand5]

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I was looking at that myself... how large is your incubator, how much did you use of the flex tape, and what temps can you maintain with it?
thanks

My incubator is about 2ft x 2ft x 18" high. I used about 2ft of flextape. It gets up to 100 with no problem, but I may up it to 3ft just so the temp recovers faster after I open the incubator when turning the eggs. I actually used a porportional thermostat that is about $100 but the on/off type that is in the link should work fine as well. I am only using the more expensive one because I already had an extra one. I ran the flex watt along the edges and built a raised grate for the eggs to sit on. I also added a computer fan for circulation, but I am not sure if it was actually needed.

 

[ziL]

Though I haven't made one my self, I have checked Youtube for videos on making incubators. I liked the idea of using a cooler, but cutting out a section of the lid and putting a clear section in as a window.

 

[jenlynn4]

best bator I have found for around 100.00 is the brinsea eco 20!

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
My incubator is about 2ft x 2ft x 18" high. I used about 2ft of flextape. It gets up to 100 with no problem, but I may up it to 3ft just so the temp recovers faster after I open the incubator when turning the eggs. I actually used a porportional thermostat that is about $100 but the on/off type that is in the link should work fine as well. I am only using the more expensive one because I already had an extra one. I ran the flex watt along the edges and built a raised grate for the eggs to sit on. I also added a computer fan for circulation, but I am not sure if it was actually needed.

ok thanks! I was actually looking at the wider flex tape, thinking i'd run it on the bottom of the 'bator, with a raised floor like you mentioned... but i would definitely have a fan running, since otherwise you'd end up with serious stratification of temperature gradients...

you said you had 2 sections... did you wire them together or separately? (series/parallel?)

hubby just brought up a good point also tho... if 2 heats it adequately, 3 will heat it faster, but your thermostat's going to cycle much faster too. I think I will opt for finding the bare minimum and adding about 50%... then i know it won't be overkill, but if the temps outside the 'bator drop some it'll be able to compensate.

I was thinking about doing light bulbs, but don't want lights blinking on/off all the time... i'm kinda weird like that. what's all that light doing to the development of a chick? i won't use lights in my brooder either but use ceramic heat emmitters like they use for reptiles. 60w heat emitter does just fine for the chicks. then i have a light on a timer for their 'daytime' cycle.

i'm just odd like that i guess.

 

[Arielle]

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I bought a framed picture with glass at the Salvation Army just for the glass to use as a window.