My aquarium hopeful hatch

[chuckachucka]

Well i have read about many succesful hatches this way... Even a regular bulb in a shoe box but im not gonna cry if it fails.

I'm just testing theory and today is only day one so positive constructive tips are appreciated...negative comments not as much.

Yes incubation is one of those things where some people seem to do everything 'wrong' and yet somehow get lucky and have chicks hatch, while others do everything by the book and STILL get nothing. However, there are so many things that can go wrong so it I worth minimising these as much as you can.

For the humidity, get a hygrometer and three or four different sized small containers for water. Try them in different combinations under the heat lamp until you get the humdiity between 40-45. It will take at least a couple of hours after putting in the water for the humidity to stabilise.

The temps must be high enough so aim for 101 if you don't have a fan. If the temp is not high enough you could try wrapping something around the outside of the incubator to trap in the light and therefore the heat. Anything from paper to black bin bags to towels will work as long as the light cannot escape. It is beat to use a dimmer switch on the lamp so you can adjust the temps easily. Aim to have the temp higher than you need when the dimmer is on full then dim it down to get it right.

I know you are experimenting but you have to remember that these little eggs actually contain (the potential for) life. If nothing develops, that's too bad. But if they start to develop then quit because the conditions aren't right, that will be sad and unnecessary. I've had a hatch before where the chicks developed fully then never pipped to hatch and subsequently died because the temps had been a tad too low throughout. It was heartbreaking.

 

[Elmochook]

Thank you @chuckachucka your tips are actually helpful. I can tape paper all around the sides.

As far as losing "potential life" ive carried human babies to 18 and 20 weeks and lost them... I am not as attached to eggs that come from my chickens the same way.

 

[lazy gardener]

I want to start getting my mind wrapped around the incubation process and have come across the idea of an aquarium as a hatch home and i have one on hand so today is day 1 and i will try to hatch 6 eggs. I have marked the eggs with pencil to know if i have turned them and have them in a base of soft hay. Im using a 60 watt heat lamp with a flood light style bulb.
Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. I know this is not the ideal way to hatch but this is mostly for science so I'm going in expecting error.
How often do i need to hand turn them?

I have a lazer temp gun and have my temp at about 93 which seems good?

They are between 93-95 degrees

Well i have read about many succesful hatches this way... Even a regular bulb in a shoe box but im not gonna cry if it fails.

I'm just testing theory and today is only day one so positive constructive tips are appreciated...negative comments not as much.

Are you ready to cull any chicks who are born with congenital defects? Incubation at wrong temperature, even for a few days will often cause irreversible congenital defects. Unless you can provide the correct temperature and humidity throughout the incubation period, it is not fair to any chicks who may hatch with defects to be born as the result of a science experiment. The time to test theory is before you put eggs in there. Correct incubation temp and humidity are not theories. They are fact. Good animal husbandry involves doing what is right and ethical for the animals involved.

 

[Bunnylady]

I would use a lot more than paper. I have a Styrofoam cooler that I adapted for use as an incubator; sometimes I get good hatches, sometimes not so much. I wound up having to put it under the sink in a bathroom because that was the only interior space with power; if it was anywhere that it could "see" a window, the temperature fluctuated too much. I have had a few deformed chicks over the years, and it is not pleasant to think that something I did caused that.

 

[chuckachucka]

Thank you @chuckachucka your tips are actually helpful. I can tape paper all around the sides.

As far as losing "potential life" ive carried human babies to 18 and 20 weeks and lost them... I am not as attached to eggs that come from my chickens the same way.

I'm so sorry for your losses, Elmochook. I can't imagine what you've been through. I know it doesn't compare but I just had to crack and discard an egg that died around day 7 of incubation and there was a teeny little chick in there. it did affect me, and I wish I could have avoided that.

Make sure the paper is dark coloured or thick. Card might be better, even something like the card of cereal boxes cut out would work if you have some handy.

 

[Elmochook]

Who said life was "fair"?

Im lining the outside with paper and tinfoil on the inside and i have a card board box type lid that i will poke holes into to adjust temp. I also now blocked off about half of the tank as i know it was a bit large. I now have my temp up to 99-101.

Yes i am prepared to cull any chicks that may need it...

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

I can't give you much advice, but my sister wants to tell you Good Luck and she hopes it works.
P.S.She think's it's a really cool DIY incubator.

 

[chuckachucka]

People use styrofoam to insulate because the ideal situation is where the temperature and the humidity STAY correct. Getting them right is one thing, keeping them there is a whole other nightmare. However I have found that even styrofoam doesn't do much to regulate. So the beat thing is to keep the incubator where the room temperature is likely to stay constant. If you have an unheated garage or basement, that would be best. Central heating playa havoc with my home made incubator!