Need HELP on fridge incubator

[Yiannisk]

You did a very good job i like it i wish i could get my hands on such a fridge any way i think with a small heating element (about 40W) at the bottom it will be perfect (hot air rises) so it will be perfect
use fan at the bottom only if you have low humidity problem

 

[bigoledude]

Check your messages.

 

[Yiannisk]

I check but nothing if you are talking to me

 

[Hawgon]

So far I have 7 chickes hatched with 4 more pipping and 11 still just sitting there!! Very exciting to at least have something after building it from a dirt filled fridge to hatching living things. Thanks to this website and all of its members for the great ideas.

 

[Yiannisk]

Seeing something that you build with your own hands to work is a great feeling congratulations

 

[quintinp]

I agree with you in a way and and take back me statement i used in the past wafers (i am 65 years old he he) but the world goes on and technology makes life easier
having a wafer in the middle of a fridge with walls too thick to adjust from outside and trying to adjust it you have to admit it needs a lot patience

I can agree that it needs much patience.

I had the same problem, with the walls of the cabinet being too thick. Before I put the eggs in it, I had to get it all adjusted, and fine tuned.

Neat that you live in Europe though, I have seen the Covattuto incubators, but that's about the only European incubators I have seen and know are European made.

 

[Hawgon]

Update......15 hatched.....2 more pipped but my wife said another chick was pecking at it and now no movement..Hoping for a couple more.....

 

[Hawgon]

Final tally is 21 out of 22 hached! The one that did not hatch was the one that got pecked on. Very happy with the results but I have a few modifications to do. .Thanks for the input

 

[bigoledude]

That greenhouse thermostat may not be sensitive enough for “incubator work”.

Just about everyone I know runs their fans continuously. Well controlled temperature is all about air circulation.

The most effective distribution of air is accomplished with "ducting". Some people do it with false walls with holes. Some, with PVC pipe. The options are many and varied. Look in the "Learning Center" "Hatching Eggs & Raising Chicks", "Homemade Incubators".

I never did like the idea of my fans blowing directly onto the eggs. I just like diffused air better. However, there are many thousands of incubators out there with fans blowing directly over the eggs.

Humidity can be increased by increasing surface area. The depth of your container is not what matters. You do not need more dishes of water. Some people increase surface area with sponge. I did by hanging a rag into my reservoir and letting it wick water. If I want the humidity higher, I pull up on the wire that protrudes through the top of my cabinet and expose more of the wet rag. Only in lockdown do I need to, since our SE Louisiana humidity keeps it just about right.

I would seal those air leaks and provide ventilation that I could control.

My walls are thickly insulated also. I made a a "key" out of a small diameter piece of copper tubing to enable me to adjust my wafer thermostat. I can make adjustments without opening the door.

Ten minutes is a rather long cycling time. I would shoot for more heat so that it would cycle on-n-off faster. As for location, many of our people using the drilled water-heater stats had to place them within an inch or so away from the heat source. I think the wafer type is less particular about location.

 

[lnlfarms]

Sorry All.. I am putting up hay right now so did not have time to get to my office to check emails. ( We do not have Internet at home..OK get off the floor...yes there are still areas you can not get AFFORDABLE Internet....lol)

I want to thank everyone for their advise and help. I still need to get a photo of my thermostat so Yainnisk can help me get it wired to my heat source.

Will get the NEW incubator done after hay season and have it ready for next year, I will post pictures here and welcome any and all advise or input. I am gonna name in my "backyard incubator" because it was the advise from this thread that made the incubator what it is gonna be.

Thank you all so MUCH and I am sure I will have more questions.