So after I created a horrible situation for myself many weeks ago by setting eggs of different types and at different times I realized that I would need a hatcher because I wasn't going to risk the still developing eggs while the hatching ones hatched. So at first I used a cardboard box and a 40 watt light. The box had dirt and gay in the bottom so it held humidity well and held temps but the temps were just a bit to high. We tried changing to a 25 watt but then it was too low. So my dh and I sat down and decided to make a new one.
First we went to Walmart and walked around for a while before settling on a 40 quart clear tote and sand.
We got it all home and dh marked out the lid for what he was going to remove so we could see from the top.
He then made a hole in the middle, took the light cord apart, threaded it in, and the rewired it.
Then began the hardest part which was just simply removing the rest of the lid for the windows.
Then came air holes on the sides. They are 7/16. There are 3 on the long sides and 2 on the short sides.
I then added the sand.
Then the thermometers, lid, and plexiglass over the top until we find something else to cover the holes with.
We left it over night to heat up but the temps only made it to 90*. Do dh out tape over some of the holes and we put a heating pad under the box. Then I waited but the temps only made it to 94* so I went and got a heated blanket and covered the box. That made the temps climb to 99* within minutes. So I turned it off but left it draped over the back and I added the eggs.
The temps are currently holding around 98*-101* with the humidity hanging out around 74%-84%. I am going to add some rice to try to get that number down. Please note I didn't add any water rather the sand had been outside so it was damp when I got it.
First we went to Walmart and walked around for a while before settling on a 40 quart clear tote and sand.
We got it all home and dh marked out the lid for what he was going to remove so we could see from the top.
He then made a hole in the middle, took the light cord apart, threaded it in, and the rewired it.
Then began the hardest part which was just simply removing the rest of the lid for the windows.
Then came air holes on the sides. They are 7/16. There are 3 on the long sides and 2 on the short sides.
I then added the sand.
Then the thermometers, lid, and plexiglass over the top until we find something else to cover the holes with.
We left it over night to heat up but the temps only made it to 90*. Do dh out tape over some of the holes and we put a heating pad under the box. Then I waited but the temps only made it to 94* so I went and got a heated blanket and covered the box. That made the temps climb to 99* within minutes. So I turned it off but left it draped over the back and I added the eggs.
The temps are currently holding around 98*-101* with the humidity hanging out around 74%-84%. I am going to add some rice to try to get that number down. Please note I didn't add any water rather the sand had been outside so it was damp when I got it.
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