Putting rocks in your incubator?

[RubyNala97]

Does anyone do this? I'm a newbie and I'm using the Brinsea Eco Mini. I have to hand turn the eggs. I've read putting rocks in can keep the temp stable when you must open & close the incubator a lot. I would wash the rocks, but I'm worried about getting germs in the incubator. Any tips, advice, insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[WalnutHill]

I don't think you need to do that with a Brinsea. That is mostly a method to help cheap foam incubators and homemade incubators maintain stable temperatures.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I don't think you need to do that with a Brinsea. That is mostly a method to help cheap foam incubators and homemade incubators maintain stable temperatures.

xs 2 The Brinsea line is notorious for being set em and forget accurate machines. You shouldn't need any tricks to keep it where it should be.

 

[RubyNala97]

That's great to hear! I did a lot of research and tried to buy the best one Possible. One more quick question, do you guys think I should try to take out the glass thermometer & calibrate it? Or do you think it should be good?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

That's great to hear! I did a lot of research and tried to buy the best one Possible. One more quick question, do you guys think I should try to take out the glass thermometer & calibrate it? Or do you think it should be good?

Doesn't hurt to double check it.

 

[song of joy]

I have a Brinsea Mini Advance, which I think is the same size as your incubator. I had a batch of shipped eggs, and by day 7, one 1 was alive. I was concerned about thermal stability from having to repeatedly open the incubator to turn eggs, so I added 6 infertile eggs. I sanitized them with the Brinsea incubator sanitizer, but I think you can also use bleach in water (very dilute, I think 1 teaspoon per gallon). I replace the infertile eggs every 7-10 days to avoid any chance of an egg explosion. When I take the "duds" out after 8 or 9 days and crack them, there's no unpleasant smell to them.

BTW - I also ended up buying 2 Spot Check thermometers. My Mini-Advance had to be re-calibrated, as it was off by 1.5 degrees. (confirmed through 3 thermometers)

 

[4chickns]

Does anyone do this? I'm a newbie and I'm using the Brinsea Eco Mini. I have to hand turn the eggs. I've read putting rocks in can keep the temp stable when you must open & close the incubator a lot. I would wash the rocks, but I'm worried about getting germs in the incubator. Any tips, advice, insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have the same incubator and it would come back up to temp within 2 or 3 minutes after turning the eggs, so I didn't have that issue, but it probably does depend one how many eggs you have in there, mine was full