need advise on putting in a veiwing window on an incubator

stallionhawk

In the Brooder
12 Years
Jul 15, 2007
93
0
39
Butler Pa near Ellwood city
Ok, I just got my incubator about a month ago. My first hatch is hatching now. The incubator works great holds temp and humitity great. Only problem is it only has a small peep hole ( acually is an air hole, about the size of a peep hole in a door) to see in the bator. I have been tring to look thru this small hole to see them hatch, but it is not easy, and cant see alot of the bator. Well I was thinking I could put plexiglass or something to make two square veiwing holes. Only problem Im worried it would change how the incubator works. If it is done well, and sealed good, do you think it would work the same. The incubator is hard plastic. Also what kind of adhesive should is use, like caucking, ect.


Here is a pic

I was planing on putting a bigger one on the left inbetween the bumbs. and a smaller one on the right. What do you think?

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mine is styrofome but i used silcone to sell it with, works great, let it air out a day or too cause it does have a oder to it
 
I built my own incubator from an old fridge and used a window in the frame so have a very large viewing area, I would say it won't hurt anything to carefully cut out a section to put in a piece of plexiglass of glass, Silicone or any good sealant will work just let it cure out completely as they all release solvents for a while. If the area is insulated where you cut out for it do a check to make sure your temps are going to be okay, Good Luck
(you can see mine on my BYC page)
 
That is a great incubator I've gotten very good hatches with mine if you keep your house cool then you might need to make a box for it

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I bought those foam sheets at Lowe's the thicker ones as my house doesn't get to 65 and used the glue in the tubes. I have 2 use one to hatch in they are so easy to clean. In the summer when it got hot it didn't have any bad spikes if I got a good egg it hatched and I had good turkey hatches too. I added a hole for a tube to add water really didn't need to use my humidity thing if I kept the outside well with water and let it evaporate before I refilled it kept the air cell right on
 
I used a piece of 8 by 10 inch glass from a picture frame in the top of my homemade incubator and have no problems with it at all. You might be able to find glass from a smaller picture frame to use. I sealed mine in with caulk that we had lying around. It was actually bathroom caulk which works even if it gets wet and won't mildew. Just an idea.
 
Lotsapaints- Yes I really like this incubator too. I had a really good hatch for my first time. Out of 32 eggs all but 7 hatched they are still in there, may get a late bloomer but doubt it. . I started with 42 but 10 were not fertle. I just would like to see more during incubation. I didn't have no problem with temp spiking or anything like that but it is still pretty warm in pa. I like they the way yours looks with the windows, thats what I want to do,

-Do you keep the top grate on while hatching? I left mine on because I was afraid of the fan getting the chicks, but the grate is hard to see thru.
 
Yes I left it on. I used the plastic lenses from a welding hood my hubby is a welder so they were handy and fit just perfect and 2 so I could look I wouldn't want to take the top grate off for the fan just make sure the bottom has the tabs up I did mine upside down for a couple of hatches and shelf liner too I had a chick get their leg caught for more money there is somebody in FL who sells the clear ones and the temp is adjustable....
 

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