More incubator problems NEED HELP(PICS ADDED)

[Bil]

I just reworked my incubator, and one thing I did just to try it out to see how it would work and it seems to have helped is that I turned my thermostat around so the metal backing was facing out. This helped warm it up & cool off quicker so I was getting a quicker reaction to the air temperature. I also have the fan blowing over the light bulb and partially at the thermostat so it will also cool off quicker and turn the light back on.

On my last incubation I was going from around 94º to 104º (surprised I got 3 to hatch!!). Now I have been watching it this week (no eggs in it yet, supposed to be sent today!!) my temp change is from 98.4º to 101.0º. A much better fluctuation. I would guess that if I had a thermometer in a water wiggler, my fluctuation would be less.

Good luck!

Bil

 

[klf73]

I wouldn't move the heat source closer to your thermostat. It won't give an accurate reading if you do. I tried using one of those water thermostats and the temp flux was so bad that I didn't use it. I ended up buying a digital reptile thermostat. The other option is just buying a replacement wafer type thermostat that is used in the hovabator (I think?). It isn't as cheap, but neither were my eggs......JMO

 

[rnoyster]

Bil...
I am wondering if your fan is too large for the size of your bator. My homemade bator is about 1/2 to 3/4 bigger that what yours appears in the picture, yet my fan is only a 1 1/2" PC fan.
I have my fan directly over my light and the thermostat about 6-7 inches to the side, about the same height as the fan. My light is an appliance bulb and is doing great keeping my bator at proper constant temp. I have a small tupperware box under the screening on the bottom with a wet sponge sitting in it for humidity. My humidity is 55-58% and my temp is holding steady at 99.4 degrees. I have an aquarium thermometer stuck to the glass as a back up and it reads a constant 101.0 (but it is at the top of the bator too) I just finished hatching 15 of 16 eggs from my flock in the yard and am waiting for a clutch of turkey eggs being shipped and a dozen BO eggs as well. Hope that this helps. I am fairly new to this, but this is what worked for me.
Dick

 

[Bil]

Quote:
It is a PC fan and it is actually really small, probably about the same size as your fan, but I just left it in the power supply housing. I was going to mount it on the wall, but once I took all the power cables, and other stuff out of the housing unit, I figured it would just be easier to set it in there. There is room for the air to flow below the housing so the air is circulated really well. It does look big, but the fan is not that big.

Bil

 

[CARS]

Never mind. Been covered already.

 

[rays123]

so i rearranged a few things and added a "EGG WIGGLER" so we'll see how it goes

 

[perrym1962]

I would use a wafer type thermostat. A lot less temp swing.

 

[rays123]

Quote:
i would but i dont know anywhere around here to get one and id prefer not to have to order but i may have to.

 

[tiki244]

You could try a 60W bulb instead of a 40W bulb and see if that helps. Also, after the incubator stabalizes, you might have to 'tweek' the thermostat ever so slightly for about a week till you get the right temperature.

 

[rays123]

how long does it take to stabilize bc ive had it running for almost 3 days now and it wont stay constant at all it drops at least 7 degrees and at least 4 degrees on my wiggler everytime before it cuts back on. what are some ways i could get it to cut back on faster ive got the fan slightly pointed at the thermostat and that seemed to help