I am wondering if I could use my coal stove as an incubator. I have a basket and if positioned at the right spot it stays exactly 100°F. I have it sitting behind the coal stove so that there is no temperature change. Do I need to cover the eggs or can the top of the basket be open? Do you think it will work?
Eggs need 2 things to hatch. Temp.... 100F Humidity..... this is debated a lot but under 40% humidity is rarely hatchable in a incubator. (I like to be between 50% and 70% myself but again this is a highly debated part of hatching. I believe it is vastly different for people who hatch mainly due to the climate they live in.) If that works in a open basket then go for it! I would try it first with some local cheap hatching eggs... mutts Hatch a couple batches to make adjustments as needed. Then get the eggs you want. I always throw in a couple local "homebrew" eggs as controls when I incubate eggs that were sent to me. This helps me to determine if it was the eggs/shipping or my incubator if I have problems. Hope this helps!
