Incubator without thermostat?

[K R 2709]

I am building an incubator. I have everything I need except for a thermostat . Do I need one? If i do need one is there anything else you can use instead?
Thanks

 

[K R 2709]

?

 

[eggsellentfarms]

I'm not sure how you could have an incubator without a thermostat or a heating source that either has one built in, or also acts as a thermostat. Otherwise you would have to sit there 24/7 opening and closing vents or turning on and off the heat source.

I used a water heater thermostat in my homemade incubator. I've only tried in once and am unsure of the results. I think it has a little too wide of an on/off range to keep the temp right where it needs to be. I've got a broken food dehydrator that I've saved and I might try the thermostat out of it next time.

I would definitely recommend you search "homemade incubator" in the BYC forums. You'll find a lot of ideas and good advice.

 

[NinjaRooster]

I built a styrofoam cooler incubator without a thermostat. It took LOTS of tinkering over the course of a few days to get it to hold the proper temp. In the end, it worked great.
However, with styrofoam you have the ability to make holes when needed and to plug them as well. If you don't mind tinkering and painstakingly adjusting very small holes, then yes, it can be done.

That said, I would try a water heater thermostat. Should be under $10 from any big box home improvement store. You will also need to fiddle with that a bit to figure out where the dial needs to be set for the proper temp, since it is likely not accurate.
Best of luck! And keep us posted!

 

[eggsellentfarms]

NinjaRooster, just wondering how much you had to tinker with it during the length of the incubation. It seems like once you add eggs that can produce some heat of their own that would change the temp. Further any fluctuations in the room temp could make a big difference as well.
Perhaps it can be done, but it just sounds like a ton of extra work.

 

[NinjaRooster]

NinjaRooster, just wondering how much you had to tinker with it during the length of the incubation. It seems like once you add eggs that can produce some heat of their own that would change the temp. Further any fluctuations in the room temp could make a big difference as well.
Perhaps it can be done, but it just sounds like a ton of extra work.

I don't remember exactly, but I don't think it took very much adjustment after the initial setup. I did keep it in a relatively sealed off bathroom though, so I didn't have to much problem with room air temperature. It did take about ~3 days to get the temp right though.

Your mileage may vary!

 

[K R 2709]

Thanks for the info. Mine is made from a styrofoam cooler so I might try tinkering with the vents. If i do go with the thermostat how do I instal it? My heat source is a lightbulb with a standard plug in. Also what wattage of bulb do you suggest for a med. sized cooler?
Thanks

 

[NinjaRooster]

On the thermostat, there will be a couple of places where a screw can be loosened a few turns, a piece of wire inserted around the screw and between a metal plate, and then the screw be tightened down. You will need to have EITHER positive or negative installed to the thermostat, it doesn't matter really, but it can only be ONE. Essentially, the wire will run like this: Power (let's just say positive) to bulb, bulb to thermostat, thermostat to other side of power (negative).
Also, don't put the thermostat right next to the light, it will be hotter than the rest of the incubator there.
As far as bulb size, you might try a 100 watt if going with a thermostat, or 40 to 60 watt if without.

Now, how good are you with electronics (such as wiring this kind of thing up)?

 

[sweets3068]

No thermostat here. Day 21 and eggs are hatching now. The only problem I had with temp was when the temp in the room got warmer. Just a fish tank loaf pans, hardware cloth, shelf liner and a light. Humidity was controlled with plastic wrap over the top.

 

[K R 2709]

Cool! Hope ur hatch goes well.