So... I want to make a Crock Pot Incubator...

[yakitori]

Just wanted to show some data.
Controller is set to kick in at 37.6F.

This is the last 48 hours. air temp fluctuates between 36.1-37.2C (97-99F). contact temperature between the egg and water surface is 37.5C - 38.8C, i know it seems a bit high, but none of these are sustained temperatures, and if the average of the highs and lows are taken, it would be about 36.8 - 38C, which would still be on the cooler side. I think the warmer water surface would better imitate a broody’s body temperature.

both remaining eggs are showing good embryo movement, which is encouraging.

 

[yakitori]

The two eggs are still alive. One has strong veins and is very active, while the other doesn’t have the same thick veins, but does show movement.

9 days to go

 

[TheDuckGuy]

The two eggs are still alive. One has strong veins and is very active, while the other doesn’t have the same thick veins, but does show movement.

9 days to go

how's mama paint?

 

[yakitori]

how's mama paint?

Mama Paint is back to being normal chicken Paint. I gave away her babies today to a family with a little girl. I was told that the chickies were really friendly and the little 4yo girl loves them

I was a little worried Paint would be really upset like all those momma hens i read about who lost their babies, so I took the chicks out of the coop at night.

Lo and behold, Paint was back to her squeaky old self again when I opened the coop in the morning. It’s as if her broodieness and mommahood had never happened

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

I hatched some coturnix quail in a skillet once. It was very particular and it's a miracle any hatched. I think there was 4 of 8. The second half were fully developed but I ran to the store and back and in that half hour the temperature spiked and cooked them. Thankfully the 4 had hatched and I'd moved them to brooder already.
I just played with the skillet dial and a very cheap thermometer/hygrometer. A towel lined it and I played with the lid askew until I found where it worked.

You can buy a plug n play thermostat online and that would probably be perfect for an experiment like this. If I were attempting it... Probably aquarium gravel in the bottom for heat retention. With a rag covering the gravel for the eggs to set on. You could probably play around with toothpicks taped strategically to offset the lid, to have some air and humidity control. I'd probably go with a dry hatch, but here in Ohio we usually have humidity to work with lol.

I'll be interested to see how this continues!

 

[yakitori]

I hatched some coturnix quail in a skillet once. It was very particular and it's a miracle any hatched. I think there was 4 of 8. The second half were fully developed but I ran to the store and back and in that half hour the temperature spiked and cooked them. Thankfully the 4 had hatched and I'd moved them to brooder already.
I just played with the skillet dial and a very cheap thermometer/hygrometer. A towel lined it and I played with the lid askew until I found where it worked.

You can buy a plug n play thermostat online and that would probably be perfect for an experiment like this. If I were attempting it... Probably aquarium gravel in the bottom for heat retention. With a rag covering the gravel for the eggs to set on. You could probably play around with toothpicks taped strategically to offset the lid, to have some air and humidity control. I'd probably go with a dry hatch, but here in Ohio we usually have humidity to work with lol.

I'll be interested to see how this continues!

It's super humid here right now, hygrometer is reading 70% on a good day It's been super rainy here, and I'm ready to see the sun again

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[yakitori]

1 week left. Today I realized what I should have done pre setting... I should have checked the internal temps of my dummy eggs, oh well too late for that now. I guess I'll figure out by the hatch time whether the incubation temp was too cool or warm - if they hatch at all.

Anyway, stats from this week... Mind you that this is the air temp, not the contact temp.

 

[Happybasketful]

Hi! Great experiment!

 

[yakitori]

Eggs are still alive, although one has always been more sluggish than the other. The shell is also thicker, so it makes it harder to candle. I won’t be home tomorrow to turn the eggs, but they should be fine without for one day...

Right now I’m thinking of how to go about lockdown, especially on how to up by he humidity. Maybe a wet rag...?

I should also lift the towel for better airflow and ventilation. I’m wondering if I should switch over to a large clear ziplock bag with a few holes poked in. That way I would be able to view any progress in the eggs during lockdown.