Incubators Anonymous

[PD-Riverman]

Its chicken feed lol I have the brooder next to it and spilled some feed when I opened the bator

Another question--if I may ask, how are you controlling the humidity now and plan to control it during the hatch with the lid of the incubator cracked open?

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Do you have a good hatch rate using the cooler? I've always been curious because the idea makes sense. You probably get a more consistent temp than a lot of incubators sold in the stores.

 

[Faraday40]

Mine has very consistent temp, but the height of the eggs matter. (If I stack & add a 2nd shelf, the upper eggs are much closer to the bulbs & get 2 degrees warmer - even with a fan. I only use the bottom. I also add water bottles (heat sinks) along the walls to keep the temps steady. Humidity fluctuates between 20-30% with a small bowl of water.


On day 18, I add a tray of water (seen below), 2 soaked rags, & 4-6 sponges to get 60-65% humidity. My bigger problem is that I must continue dripping water into it daily to keep the humidity up.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Mine has very consistent temp, but the height of the eggs matter. (If I stack & add a 2nd shelf, the upper eggs are much closer to the bulbs & get 2 degrees warmer - even with a fan. I only use the bottom. I also add water bottles (heat sinks) along the walls to keep the temps steady. Humidity fluctuates between 20-30% with a small bowl of water.


On day 18, I add a tray of water (seen below), 2 soaked rags, & 4-6 sponges to get 60-65% humidity. My bigger problem is that I must continue dripping water into it daily to keep the humidity up.

Just a few modifications on this and the humidity would be better and heat would be more even.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Mine has very consistent temp, but the height of the eggs matter. (If I stack & add a 2nd shelf, the upper eggs are much closer to the bulbs & get 2 degrees warmer - even with a fan. I only use the bottom. I also add water bottles (heat sinks) along the walls to keep the temps steady. Humidity fluctuates between 20-30% with a small bowl of water.


On day 18, I add a tray of water (seen below), 2 soaked rags, & 4-6 sponges to get 60-65% humidity. My bigger problem is that I must continue dripping water into it daily to keep the humidity up.

That is so cool! You made that?

Does the space prevent you from keeping the humidity up? Do you open and close the lid to fill up the water and wet the cloth/sponges?

 

[Faraday40]

Just a few modifications on this and the humidity would be better and heat would be more even.

I think it could be my computer fan. Perhaps too strong & it makes the water evaporate too quickly. I use plastic tubing to add water so I don't have to open after lockdown. I usually get 85-95% hatch rates on local (non-shipped) eggs. Once got 100%, but only once.


My worst was 75% when I used a see-saw egg turner. You can see how the edges get closer (or farther) from the heat source. It took me 2 days to figure out why the temp was always fluctuating. I kept making adjustments.

Sometimes I can be a little slow....


I now use the "egg carton on a tube" turner with more success.

 

[Faraday40]

That is so cool! You made that?

Does the space prevent you from keeping the humidity up? Do you open and close the lid to fill up the water and wet the cloth/sponges?

My DD wanted to hatch eggs for a 4H project. I didn't want to spend $50 for Styrofoam, so I made this as my contribution. I like to tinker & the online directions were simple. I brought the cooler to my Dad so he could cut the lid. DH works with computers, so getting a fan off a dead computer was easy. I had to buy the thermostat wafer & a cooler, but everything else was "found."

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Fantastic hatch rates! I was going to suggest the tubing and syringe. I'm no pro, but it could be the fan I suppose. We always turned the eggs by hand growing up - nowadays there's so many ideas and different equipment you don't have to even open up the incubator if everything is as it should be. I just picked up one with an egg turner - it's like Xmas! I'll hopefully get some eggs in it this wknd.

Is your viewing window plexi?

 

[Faraday40]

Yes. The plexiglas is lightweight. I have a piece on the outside & another on the inside. The double pane keeps more heat in. (I had noticed the Plexiglas was slightly warm to the touch when turned on. After adding the interior piece, the window is as cool on as when off.)

 

[Nanna34]

Another question--if I may ask, how are you controlling the humidity now and plan to control it during the hatch with the lid of the incubator cracked open?

I don't control the humidity at the moment don't have a hydrogometer (think that is how you spell it) its hard to find anything were I live my sister is bringing me everything I need to upgrade the bator this weekend, I'm basically doing a dry hatch but I make sure the cup of water is always full.

Even though the lid is open there is condensation at the bottom so I'm feeling confident, I found a piece of glass that I will use for lockdown and have a little tube that I can use to keep the cup topped up. Hatch day is mid next week I cat wait.