Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[Beekissed]

Either way, these are the only eggs available...I know no one with chickens in this area. I'll incubate what I have, regardless of fertility and let time sort it out.

 

[ronott1]

Might be a good idea to collect some eggs for a few days and break them open to see if 'the sissie roo' is doing his job..before selecting more to incubate.
I look at almost every yolk I eat for breakfast to check for fertility.

Agrees if you are totally starting over to open all the eggs in the henobator and examine them for any development.

What do you remember about the 3rd-4th day on incubation?

I thin one of your biggest issues here is that there is no thermostat, you are the thermostat ....and have to learn to do any heat adjustments very carefully and allow ample time for them to take effect before making another change.

McMurray sells a Mini Dome incubator. It does not have a thermostat. Temperature is adjusted by moving the light bulb towards and away from the eggs.



Both the heat pad and the light bulb would require hands on work for sure!

 

[Beekissed]

Isn't that pretty much the same as DIY cooler incubators? They rely on intervention from the human to regulate the heat?

 

[ronott1]

Isn't that pretty much the same as DIY cooler incubators? They rely on intervention from the human to regulate the heat?

Most DIY cooler incubators use a thermostat from a water heater so they do use a thermostat.

 

[Beekissed]

Most DIY cooler incubators use a thermostat from a water heater so they do use a thermostat.

Gotcha. I guess this one is sort of like hen thermostatic controls...largely depending on the heat source's ability to maintain a correct temperature in the nest and the user's ability to adjust the heat source in order to do that.

 

[ronott1]

Gotcha. I guess this one is sort of like hen thermostatic controls...largely depending on the heat source's ability to maintain a correct temperature in the nest and the user's ability to adjust the heat source in order to do that.

That is what is so great about it!

 

[Beekissed]

That is what is so great about it!

I know!

This heat source and the nest are really stable if I can just get the temps correct. The temps never really waver if the ambient temps of the house stay between 40-70*, which is a pretty high range. Now that I have this water sleeve around the thermometer, I expect this venture will be much more successful.....should have listened to Fred in the first place!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'm very torn between saying "start over" and "keep going." I want to see this work so much, but one has to get through a minimum of 21 days before that can happen.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I know!

This heat source and the nest are really stable if I can just get the temps correct. The temps never really waver if the ambient temps of the house stay between 40-70*, which is a pretty high range. Now that I have this water sleeve around the thermometer, I expect this venture will be much more successful.....should have listened to Fred in the first place!

The water sleeve is so very useful, obviously, but it is an extra step, and you are aiming for maximum simplicity ... always a worthy goal. I think the idea of putting the thermometer between two eggs was a great "first try."

ETA: Ha! I edited this, but the mistake remains. Weirdness!

 

[Beekissed]

The water sleeve is so very useful, obviously, but it is an extra step, and you are aiming for maximum simplicity ... always a worthy goal. I think the idea of putting the thermometer between two eggs was a great "first try."

I'll still count two bags of water and some tape on the simple side.

And it makes perfect sense when dealing with items that are fluid filled and covered in a shell, as opposed to the air beside them.

The next nest will have more soil so that it will hold more moisture, so little improvements will be made on the original design. We'll see where that takes us. I will start the new nest tomorrow, if all materials are on hand.