- Mar 28, 2009
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After a failed first attempt, I rebuilt my homemade wooden box still-air incubator by installing a 12v computer fan powered by an 18v power source from an old cable tv "black-box" unit(all parts free from things out of the garage I hadn't tossed out yet!). The power differential seems to work just fine.... Though this time, after having bad temp fluctuations due to room temp changes in my last attempt, I put bator in the basement, which is much colder but steadier in temp. I had to insulate outside of box quite a bit to raise temps and am using a 75watt bulb on a dimmer switch for adjustments, although I am now holding a steady 100 degrees with the switch set all the way up. Eggs are in a turner w/broken motor but only takes a few seconds to open the bator and turn manually. Last time I laid eggs on screen and it took a minute or two to do so. After 2 badly shaken and broken shipments of eggs from an e-bayer(which I notified about for poor packaging on the first try), they sent me a free shipment of 15 eggs wrapped individually in bubble wrap and again in newspaper(well-protected this time). All eggs arrived perfect! I also got 15 from a local farm for re-assurance! Lots of different breeds but it will be a surprise as to what they are! I can't wait. They are due to hatch on May 9th, which is 6 days before my 8 yr old daughters B-day. Perfect. Its a Saturday, so I'll pick her up Friday and she'll stay w/me that weekend(amicably divorced!). Anyone else on the same schedule here? I expect to have a great hatch and am at this point very optimistic. Last time the eggs got too hot and didn't even start growing, so I don't feel bad that I killed the chicks. Anyway, Happy Hatching to All!!!!