Is it possible to hatch poultyr eggs on a heat mat?

[rachmickmurphy]

Yes arielle this is where I am confused I just don't get how the egg temp is measured in my BellSouth my gauge reads 103 above the egg but translates to the right core temp for the eggs to hatch at 21days. I used the same priciples for the homemade bator in fact I use the same temp gauges today

 

[Arielle]

GOsh, sorry I missed this. How are the eggs??

THe mat can be 102, half way up the egg 99.5 and the top of the egg is 98

IF the mat is UNDER the eggs.

Reverse if over the eggs.

 

[samatoms]

I just candled the eggs on the heat mat and they were partially developed. The thermometer in the box with the eggs says the temperature went up to 106F. I am guessing they are dead now. Some of the eggs from the batch are in an Rcom incubator. Those look more developed. I think this setup might work if the eggs were uncovered. I had them in a cardboard box with a lid. It was filled shredded paper. That box was covered with a towel. I should have skipped the towel. The clutch is due to hatch in 6 days. I will let you know if there are any miracles, but I think this is a fail.

 

[Arielle]

I just candled the eggs on the heat mat and they were partially developed. The thermometer in the box with the eggs says the temperature went up to 106F. I am guessing they are dead now. Some of the eggs from the batch are in an Rcom incubator. Those look more developed. I think this setup might work if the eggs were uncovered. I had them in a cardboard box with a lid. It was filled shredded paper. That box was covered with a towel. I should have skipped the towel. The clutch is due to hatch in 6 days. I will let you know if there are any miracles, but I think this is a fail.

WHile you might not have any chicks hatch, look how much you learned!! I don't call that "a fail" -- I aplaude your efforts!!

 

[Jayson_Black]

OK so I threw together an emergency Incubator (for an emergency that was not really an emergency lol) and this incubator uses a 10 year old 40 watt Reptile heat matt.

The housing is an old Sony Playstation 3 Box.

Its controlled by one of those cheap ebay Thermostats like the STC-1000 (less than $10 U.S.) and an army of other thermometers for quality control of the temperature. I'm using a Tea Towel as a substrate between the heat matt and the eggs. the eggs and Tea Towell are placed on a plastic plate. a bit like a square dinnner plate. We only have 9 days to go and the chicks seem healthy and are ALL Still Alive.

We Set down 6 eggs. Two failed to fire at all (or were infertile to begin with). The other 4 are growing like crazy.

I am expecting the worst and hoping for the best. It will be a miracle if they hatch and survive.

Humidity is controlled by feel. I have no working Hygrometer and I can not make a wet bulb set small enough to fit in the box. I have like 10 Hygrometers in the post.

Fortunately I have been a storm chser for about 20 years and as such have become extremely good at "Feeling" the Humidity levels. I can stick my hand and arm into the box and I can feel to within about a 10% accuracy the humidity level. I can alos run the tea towell between my fingers and guess the current humidity level.

Dont worry. I totally understand the BIG mistake I have made. I rished into this without knowing anything about incubation. I began reading and learning in the minutes after setting the eggs. I would have left the eggs with the mother knowing what I know now. I would have waited for my store brought Bator, knowing what I know now.

I will report back if my chicks survive. but I Strongly recomend NOT doing it a laxed as I have. Use better equipment than I have. we are talking about living creatures. I fear I am setting myself up for hurt by doing the bator I did. If these chicks hatch, I will still NOT set any more in that bator. its too risky.

The heat that comes off of the heat matt is doing the job, but I fear it is not stable. I think it may have its own thermostat built in, and I have no idea what temperature it is switching off at. Every now and then, the bator is suddenl;y a few degrees colder than it should be. the only thing I can think of is that the heat mat has its own thermostat and everyone once in a while it clashes with the main controller.

I would only do what I have done if there is no other choice and you are doing it to save a chick, not to just rasie them like normal.