question about foam cooler incubator

[skeeter]

i use a 60 watt bulb in mine,mine is made out of 11/2in foam insulation but I have a thermostat,I dont see how you could possibly regulate temps without one,or why you would even want too?
I guess maybe I dont understand what you are trying to do

 

[needmorechickens!]

IMO, it is too chancy without a thermostat...room temps will really affect your temps. Heck, even with a thermostat i am having trouble since the outside temp is fluctuating so much between day and night.
Keep working on it, you'll get it. Good luck with it.
~Rebecca

 

[greathorse]

I understand the need or desire to build a very low cost incubator, but when you think about it if the few extra dollars for a wafer thermostat is going to stand in the way of someone buying an incubator from you, not sure they should be in the chicken business. It is a very small price to pay in comparison to feed cost brooder cost, etc,etc. I cant imagine that there is a stable way to control temperture without the thermostat in there. For one thing the eggs (chicks) create their own body heat when they get to about 18 days so you will have an additional source of heat in the cooler.

Not sure it would be a responsible person that would set eggs in a incubator that doesnt have some sort of thermostat for regulating temp. It would be one thing if they either hatched or didn't but you have the possibility of deformed, weird, birds from bad temps. Rough navels, mushy chicks, badly feathered just to name a few. Those of us with the ability to hold temps within a degree have enough trouble



JMO

 

[griffin45]

Use a water heater thermostat and mount it to a double gang box with all the holes knocked out. I am in the process of building a wooden incubator and the initial cost is skyrocketing. If I build multiples the cost will be better. I am a process control tech. I do testing and repair of process controls and I know how to make something cost a lot of money... I Overthink these things sometimes, but I live for the experience!

 

[dave27889]

I want to thank everyone for their help and opinions. What I was trying to do is make a cheap bator for people in a poor area. I have seen these type of bators talked about online and have even seen one on you tube. They had no thermostat to regulate heat except holes that they covered and uncovered. I was trying to copy that type of bator. I have been keeping a log of the different types of light bulbs, the amount of holes along with mounting the light in several different places. I have even raised and lowered the height of the rack the the eggs are on. I used just plain store bought eggs at room temp.
I see no way that you should use this method you can't keep it regulated enough, if the room temp changes by much things go crazy. When you turn the eggs the temp goes down and if you are using the smaller watt bulbs it takes to long to build the temp back up. I am sure you can hatch some eggs this way but what about the eggs that start to develop and then die off because you were trying to do it on the cheap. I have decided this way is not for me.
I am going to try the waterheater thermostat mounted on a handy box. That is what you call the little metal box people are talking about. They come in various sizes. I am then going to do a comparison on the waterheater thermostat verses the wafer thermostat and the dimmer switch that someone told me to try. I will then let you know what I find out. I have five bator boxes made up and I will cahrt them through the weekend and try to post the results on Monday or Tuesday of next week. I may even try to do a couple of the 48 quart coolers if I can find some cheap ones. I have a lot of fishing buddies and they are always looking for a reason to buy a new cooler. They can donate a couple to sicence maybe?
I want to thank you all again and I will update this as soon as possible. Thanks, Dave

 

[speckledhen]

Good luck, Dave. I found my cooler at a flea market for $5 in great shape.

 

[dave27889]

I just installed a waterheater lower thermostat on a 4 inch cover plate. It seems to be working ok so far. I will up date in a while. I am still going to chart all of the bators. Later, Dave

 

[tcltoughmom]

Hey Dave--- due to the economy I bet you could even sell them on ebay---- I ve been watching ebay and no one builds the chicken tractors-portable mini lots--very much- you could sell them if you could build them so it can be taken apart and put in a box with directions so you could mail it. I bought my stryafoam coolers for 44.00 ( have 4) one does not have a turner, but you can use a egg crate and stand eggs and rotate them from left to right and then back and forth, even cut out small holes in bottom of egg cartons for air to pass and elevate crate with 2 small items on each end. Good Luck and if you do decide to put items on ebay send me a email. Teresa in WV
[email protected]

 

[SummerwindNC]

Dave, I picked up a Nesco Food Dehyrdrator at Good Will yesterday for $6.00. It has a t'stat 95-105 it is also forced air. I haven't messed around with making it a bator (Hubby loves beef jerky) so I figured I'd put the idea out there for you. It appears small enough to cut a hole for it in the lid or perhaps even the side of a decent size cooler...or take it apart?

Kind regards;

KAT