My New Incubator

[laxrick]

What do you guys think about this incubator? You're looking from the top down through the glass.

Materials:
Lamp Kit
25W Light Bulb
Water Heater Thermostat
Gutter grate cut and bent to make an egg platform
Indoor/Outdoor AccuRite Thermometer.
Backup Mercury Thermometer
CPU Fan rigged to AC Adaptor
Ziploc Bag filled w/ water, folded in half for homemade "wiggler"
Glass viewing window from a picture frame


The temp is not as constant as I'd like; kicks on around 97ish and off at 103ish so I guess it's doing pretty good.

Just ordered some white silkie eggs; wish me luck!

 

[jimnjay]

I have never thought of using straw in an incubator. Most people use a wire rack or just use the floor of the box. You did a good job, personally I would use a smaller bulb, I use the candle shaped ones, it makes reaching in there a bit easier. Do you have air vent holes along the bottom? Since the whole top is glass you should have a few along the top as well.

 

[becky3086]

What is the ziplock bag for?
I would take the hay out. I can see your reasoning for it but with the bulb that close I would be afraid if it catching fire.

 

[ChickenTender63]

if they get close to the thermostat, they are going to end up being fried chickies when they touch the electrical connections. You need to get those covered up somehow to prevent electocution.

 

[Mikeeeeeeeeee]

Need some wire surrounding the bulb and electrics.
Other than that, it looks good.

 

[laxrick]

Planning on putting the wire covering the stat and bulb soon; I haven't even got the eggs yet! Smaller bulb = less of a fire hazard too!

Good idea on going smaller on the bulb; the size of the bulb is a large concern of mine. The hay is actually on top of a wire rack. I was thinking of drilling the vent holes near the bottom so air flows from underneath the eggs.

Thanks for the input! Any other suggestions are welcome too please, I really want a good hatch and don't want my kids disappointed!

 

[NancyDz]

I would take out the straw. You need a sterile environment and also with the humidity
you need, the straw will grow bacteria. Get some rubber mesh shelf liner
to set them on, there's no need for straw or anything like that until after they hatch.
Bacteria will kill the eggs. I wash my hands everytime I go in mine and everything that
goes in it is washed in a bleach solution.

Otherwise, cover the bulb so they can't touch it and it looks good.

Also wondering what the bag is and how you are creating humidity in there?

 

[laxrick]

I tried to make my own "water wiggler" with a ziploc bag. Folded it over and stuck a thermometer probe in the fold (not in the water) theoretically giving me some idea of what an egg temperature might be like.

Good idea on the straw; didn't thank about that issue. I really just put it there because I didn't want eggs rolling around on the wire.

Humidity will be provided by a pan underneath the light bulb; it's not in the photo because I took that right after I built it and didn't put it in.

Probably will get eggs next week, by then I'll have the straw out, the electronics guarded, and some humidity in the thing!

 

[Pumpkinpup]

I'd take the hay out too. Humidity can cause mold to grow in it and it's a fire hazzard too.

 

[77horses]

Good job! Take straw out and find a way to cover light bulb and all that stuff so the chicks won't get burned. Otherwise, looks great to me!
Ohhh good idea with the zip lock bag "water wiggler"!

some people have a hard time finding those toy wigglers, so maybe the bag idea would be easier?
Good luck with your hatch!