My first attempt at building a bator

[Country Gal]

So I went to Home Depot today and picked up all the stuff I needed to build a bator. I stoped at my dad's on the way home because he said he had a styrofoam cooler I could have.

First, dad's cooler is a regular cooler - plastic on the inside and outside, with styrofoam in the middle. No biggie, just a little more difficult to drill vent holes in it.

So I'm building the bator... I set up my hardware cloth, I put in a cake pan with some water, I set up a digital thermometer/hydrometer, drill some vent holes. Then I start fiddling with the light and thermostat.

I either got the wrong kind of light fixture or the wrong kind of thermostat. I have tried EVERY possible wire connection and combination and NOTHING is working. For now, I have a bulb in there and I'm checking every 20 minutes or so to see how the temp is behaving. I got one of those hot water tank thermostats, it's looks like the one Miss Prissy (sp?) has in her post. The light I have is a cord with a plug on one end and a bulb socket on the other with those clips that will hold it in place if I were to put it through a hole of sorts.

I went ahead and put some of today's eggs in there just to see what happens, but so far, I'm finding this a bit aggravating. It would really make me feel better if the thermostat was working... maybe I'll call my FIL tomorrow and see if he can offer some electrical input.

 

[rooster-red]

Do you have a pic of the setup as it is now?

 

[Davaroo]

Yeah lets see a pic and well talk you along

 

[Country Gal]

No pics yet, I'll try taking some tonight when I get home from work. I don't know if they'll work or not, I have the darndest time gettings pics uploaded from my home computer.

I'm pretty sure I need a different light fixture. When you look at Miss Prissy's pics, she has a total of 4 wires involved, and I only have 2. I'm going to try to find one of the light fixtures like she has today.

Here's another question... when you put the eggs in the bator, are they lying on their side or standing upright? And how do you turn them???

Thanks!!!

(hopefully I'll have everything under control by the time my hatching eggs arrive from e-bay!)

 

[Davaroo]

When you look at Miss Prissy's pics, she has a total of 4 wires involved, and I only have 2.

You only need two wires.

Here's another question... when you put the eggs in the bator, are they lying on their side or standing upright?

On their side

And how do you turn them???

By hand. Wear a clean cotton glove when you do.​

 

[Country Gal]

Well, I finally got the thermostat working. I think the cord I bought the first time was defective (it had clearly been opened and returned when I bought it).

I am having a little trouble stabilizing the temps though. It's usually dropping down around 95 or 97 during the night, and during the day it's around 102 or 103. Is this too much fluctuation?

Also, my humidity is around 35. How do I get that up? Just add another tray of water?

Thanks!

 

[Davaroo]

I am having a little trouble stabilizing the temps though. It's usually dropping down around 95 or 97 during the night, and during the day it's around 102 or 103. Is this too much fluctuation?

Probably. Try insulating with bubble wrap and duct tape- leaving the vents clear. Make sure you have only half of your vents open in the beginning. Also make sure the bator isnt near any windows or in a draft. Watch for AC vents, too. Best place? In the bottom of a little used closet or basement.

Also, my humidity is around 35. How do I get that up? Just add another tray of water?

Try a sponge in a small dish of water. The sponge has more surface area.​

 

[Country Gal]

Thanks for the info!

I just got the eggs I ordered off e-bay today, so hopefully everything gets stabilized by this evening. I put some of my hens' eggs in on Wednesday and Thursday, I may try candling tonight to see if anything is going on with them or if they're already fried...