Need Help With Temp In Homemade Styrofoam Incubator.....

[Sustained]

I used tinfoil covered cardboard between the light and the eggs, a 25w lightbulb, a 1" hole just above the light bulb covered with duck tape that I could open a little if it started getting a little too warm, and I set the incubator in my bedroom which is only used when I go to bed at night so there's not a ton of doors opening and temp fluxes because of room activity. It stayed pretty much between 99-101 degrees. I did have to put a towel across the lid at night when it started getting colder at night but other than that I didn't really have any issues with the temp after I switched to a 25w bulb. The 40w kept spiking the temp to 104 and even 106 once. yikes!

 

[bradnjulieplus4]

Yeah me too think i got it dialed in tonight

 

[MeepBeep]

I don't have the money for a thermostat

For the $8 it cost for a water heater thermostat at the hardware store (or $20 from another place) you being penny wise and dollar silly, chances are you will spend more money trying to get it to work and/or kill off eggs... The water heater thermostats might not be the most accurate but they are plenty accurate for this application...

I had just packed my incubators away for the season but we decided to hatch some blue eggs for the heck of it this week... I build a budget 'hatcher' earlier this year using a water heater thermostat and honestly it hold temp as well if not better then my cheap foam incubator so I have been using it as a incubator and hatcher... I dusted it off an turned it back on Tuesday and plan to set eggs Saturday...

Attached is a quick picture I just took, the digital thermometer in there logs the high and low temp as well as high and low humidity over the last 24 hours, I'm more than satisfied with that $8 thermostat I used in there...

 

[bradnjulieplus4]

What about the humidity lowest i get it is 70 wth ? Will t hurt

 

[Sustained]

I cut 2 1" holes in the lid. One on each side. I discovered that the easiest way to keep the humidity in check was to cover them if I want to up the humidity and cover them if the humidity is too low. Sounds like you have too much surface area wet. if you have sponges inside, take them out and just leave a small bowl of water. I had to take mine out.

 

[Sustained]

I meant open them if the humidity is too high lol sorry

 

[ScarlettGirl11]

well I tried the foil and it just made the temp higher so I did some brain storming and cut out the 6 circles in the cooler lid...I added more water to keep the humidity about 40 and my room stays the same temp constantly so the temp went from 113 (from the foil) to a perfect 99! ill check again when I get home and if it stayed constant throughout the day ill be putting my eggs in!

Did you get yours fixed bradnjulieplus4?

 

[bradnjulieplus4]

Naw i tryed the 40watt bulbs and tryed cutting holes and all that jazz so after work tonight imma be a 25 watt and try that. If tomorrow morning it stays right ill put then in tomorrow

 

[bradnjulieplus4]

I got 12 assorted eggs already and 6 rir on the way so i guess imma have a full bator

 

[ScarlettGirl11]

awesome! I think im going to do a hatch-a-long thread...you should do one to!! I have silkie eggs for my incubator