Question: would like to make a HATCHER

[jmc]

Yes, i think just a hatcher.

Do you think if i went with no fan--just still air, it would be a big deal?

I don't think so, because by the lockdown babies can tolerate more uneven temps. than the embryos can during the first 18 days.

Of course, if I just use a light bulb and thermometer, etc, I will surely plan to get a stable temp and good humidity, but i still think i could get by pretty darn good with still air just for three days.

do you think??

 

[chickensinwasillaAK]

I'd think you'd still want a fan to circulate air so they can dry and fluff up. Yet I went and bought one so who am I to say. Good luck with your project, keep us posted to progress.

 

[jmc]

thank you.

so you bought one? dont' worry, i have three brinsea octagon 20 ecos and one hova. 1588!!!

'course, they were all gifts..............

just a bit of data: i have taken some pretty moist babies out of the hova hatcher i use to bring them up to the nice dry brooder and they dried and fluffed very well.

seems the very hi humidity of the hatcher doesn't allow the hatchlings to dry very well, actually

 

[cmom]

I did put a fan in mine and the temperature is more stable everywhere in it.

 

[Gypsy07]

Some people actually prefer still air hatchers as they think that having a fan going while the eggs are hatching makes it more likely that they will dry out and that the babies will have trouble hatching. I've never had trouble with that myself, I'm just saying how some people feel about fans. And I think that's mostly with waterfowl eggs as they need a higher humidity for hatching than chicken eggs do.

Anyway, if you can get your hatcher to hold a stable temp and humidity, you should be fine without a fan...

 

[Arielle]

A fan is not a necessity. You should be able to use a still air hatcher just fine.

I do use a fan in mine as sometimes my hatcher is also an incubator and the fan helps to even out the temps thru out the level that the eggs are resting on.

 

[jmc]

thanks ari and all.

i would like to be able to hatch more eggs than the hova 1588 will hold. so that is my reason for wondering about making a 72 egg hatching unit.

there is much more wiggle room temp wise come lockdown--within reason of course!!!--that's why i think it could be pretty simple to do a homemade 'hatch-only' unit.

but i dont' want to rush. the equipment i have now is obviously working fine, as the 36 leaping 2 week old chicks in our brooder will testify!!!

i found a nice little Optimus fan. a great 4 incher! could be great for mixing up the air.


I AM THINKING I COULD MAYBE GET AWAY WITHOUT A THERMOSTAT. JUST WIRE UP A DIMMER SWITCH........................?? MY BATOR ROOM IS EXTREMELY STABLE, TEMP. WISE.

Seems like wiring up and setting any thermostat is a real pain in the caruncles.

 

[quintinp]

Lots of people want to get by without a fan in their incubator, but it is usually needed. First of all, if there is no fan, the light bulb will heat up and have one really hot spot in the incubator(in a still air little giant incubator or hovabator the heating element is big and spread out, so the hot spot is not such a big problem. Also if you are going to only use the light bulb, with no thermostat, you will have the light bulb on for long periods of time and will run the danger of over heating and melting the styro foam. Trust me, I used a 40 watt bulb in the incubator for a few hours and the temperature got to 120!!!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. I use a 15 watt light bulb for the heat source in my homemade incubator with a dimmer switch and it gets up to over 100 degrees and I put a fan in it and the temp is more stable everywhere in the homemade incubator/hatcher. Before I put the fan in the temp was way up on one end and low on the other end. I put a lot of holes in it that I cover with tape to help with the air flow and humidity.

 

[jmc]

thanks.

i realize that with all the eqpt. i have right now, i really don't need to make a hatcher after all.

i was just seized by a flare of 'hatchaholic frenzy'.............wanting to hatch more and more chicks at a time.

when in fact i am quite fine where i am so to say.

thanks to all again.