Large Incubator build - need help

[hobbieorb]

I am proud of it, just got some flaws where I got in a hurry and fixed some things. One thing I would change, is the door. I would have a 2 or 3 piece door, for just adding water, or helping a chick. I did drill a hole in the top for adding water, and added an minnow aireator( runs on 2 d cell batt) for humidity, it made it go up from 49% to 61%.

 

[hobbieorb]

It is still hard to believe that temps will vary in 6"( from one shelf to another) but It does.

 

[Zgoatlady]

This is going to sound stupid but what is a false back?
My husband is going to build me one and I havent heard of a false back before.
Cheri

 

[jvls1942]

this is just my opinion and I am not looking for arguments..

I believe most people use a too small fan.. I think the fan that comes with the Hovabator and LG are too small, also..

I have 3 2000 egg bators. Jamesway 2940

they have a fan that makes your hair blow.. and they also have a separate duct that takes the air from the bottom and blows it out at the top.. the false back should give the same results..

for ventilation, I believe a 1" dia hole for every cubic foot of space is a good place to start..

I would also suggest that you should make an automatic water pan system for hum%. you can build your own for about $10.oo.

I can put one together in about 20minutes.......

 

[lil'chickies]

Great looking units. Just one ???, why do you put all the heating and humidity stuff at the top? Wouldn't it be better to put at bottom since heat naturally rises? Just curious.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
A divider making a back chamber where the air flows down to the bottom of the incubator then back in the main chamber to flow back up threw the eggs. When you look in the incubator it looks like the back but its not.

For a stable temp in a tall incubator you need a down chamber or some kind of ducting to force the output of the fan to the bottom of the incubator. That's why I use side by side refrigerators. They already have 2 chambers running from the top to the bottom. Just add holes, a fan, heat an a thermostat.

I've also put the heat on the top an the bottom, works the same.

 

[lil'chickies]

rebelcowboysnb - Do you have pics of your converted fridge units??

 

[jvls1942]

lil'chickies :

Great looking units. Just one ???, why do you put all the heating and humidity stuff at the top? Wouldn't it be better to put at bottom since heat naturally rises? Just curious.

I built one with the heating element at the bottom.. If you hatch eggs in the same unit , a lot of stuff falls to the bottom and it is a bear to clean.

with a good fan, there is little natural heat rising, hence the purpose of the fan..

You want your fan to blow through the heat source and then over the water ...​

 

[lil'chickies]

I'm starting to understand the mechanics of it more and more!! Thanks.

 

[SportTees]

I reconfigured and put a bigger fan at an angle because I couldn't put a false back. I'm testing today and temp has went from a 20 deg between shelves to with in 6 degrees now.

I didn't realize there was so much involved in makeing one of these.