Incubator not being constant !

[WhiteCrested]

Hi all ! I was recommended to come here & get some help on my incubator problems !
Okay soo, I made this incubator out of a styrofoam cooler from Publix, & took a 25 watt incandescent bulb put it in a light socket thing and put it in there. Then I took aluminum foil and made two large cup things to hold water & put a sponge in each.
My hygrometer & thermometer say everything between 96 degrees F to 104 degrees F, then anything between 40% to 70%.
I tried to find a small fan to put in there like a computer fan but it didn't work so I went on without it.
I have numerous holes in it for ventilation but I think I may buy a small computer desk fan & blow it through this one larger hole I have in there. The incubator stays inside our house where we have no fans, then it's about 70-77 degrees in the house.
My problem is I do not know how to keep the temperature & humidity at the needed range ! And my bigger dilemma is I have a dozen FERTILE eggs coming this afternoon and now my incubator is acting up. Any quick help would be amazing, I have about 6 hours to get everything ready before they come. Thanks in advance !

 

[WhiteCrested]

I think I forgot to mention is that their DUCK EGGS ! Sorry !!

 

[knightie]

Picture of your set up would help. Maybe you have too many big holes? Without pictures its hard to tell!

 

[flewdacoop]

yes need picture please

 

[WhiteCrested]

Alright you asked for pictures soo here ! :


Picture 1 of the front.



Picture 2 of the tip of the incubator.



The inside of it.



The side where I keep the holes & the light.

 

[WhiteCrested]

Forgot to say it's cheaply made ! I had minimal money and all so I made the best I could at the time but I have money so I can add stuff so I just need advice on what to put in it so it'll work good.

 

[WhiteCrested]

UPDATE: This morning I checked their house & they had an egg ! So I obviously took it, and I set it in the bator. It was extremely clean..
I never got those half dozen eggs yesterday because she wasn't around but I will be getting them soon.
I need your thoughts on something, when I have the dimmer on the low setting, it stays at a constant 96 degrees F with higher humidity but when I have it on the medium setting it goes to like
102 degrees F + and lower humidity, I was thinking of adding more water and put a small desk fan on the outside of the cooler and have the air go through the larger hole on the right side while having it on the medium setting. THOUGHTS?
Thanks.

 

[knightie]

Since I haven actually incubated any eggs yet, I can help. I personally thing there are too many holes. The one I inherited had 2 holes about the size of dimes with plugs to put in or out and then 4 holes on top and 4 on bottom the size an ice pick.

Since it was so old and so dirty I took all the hardware off and built
my own from the peices and a sheet of insulatiOn foam stuff. I've been able to keep a fairly steady temp, but I do know this.... I was told the first few eggs not to incubate... They are usually smaller than average, and frequently a bit off and from what I understand not usually fertile. (shrug) ill be attempting my first hat h with some of my Cayuga pekin crosses to give a friend for her pond. I'd talk to other folks on here who have made incubators before attempting the hatch if it's giving you issues. Hopefully someone will pipe up with more info than I have. I know someone mentioned a reptile temp controller that would help keep ptemps more in range. I think it was 15 to20 bucks.

 

[yo burrill]

Dimmers do not work well. You are at the mercy of the room temperature to stay the same for 21 or more days. You really need a thermostat. Also take the hay out of your bator. With the humidity it will mold and kill your eggs.

 

[WhiteCrested]

I took both of your advice by first covering most of the holes (and now it's at a constant 99.5 degrees F with 55% humidity) & then I removed the hay and it's seeming to go okay without it. I have been recording the temperature and humidity every hour and rotating them 4 times a day. Yesterday they laid ANOTHER egg so now I have 8 eggs in there. 6 from a breeder which she said they were 3 Pekin & 3 Blue Swedish. Then the other two are our ducks. I'll be checking to see if they're fertile on Monday cause it will be 6-7 days for all the eggs. If they don't seem like their fertile I will wait a few more days then if not, throw them out ! Any other advice I should need? THANKS.