Styrofoam Incubators Club

[Lanaep10]

I'm trying to use a heat lamp to control the temp but I'm concerned that the lamp is heating up the actual plastic on the thermometer and its reading too high. Says its 100 but I think the air temp is a few degrees lower. Any thoughts?

 

[paigenv1]

When should I pull the little red plugs on the top of the incubator....when the eggs start to hatch? Has anyone figured out a more efficient way to open the lid to turn the eggs and stuff...I have to unplug the incubator because of the fan and take the lid all of the way off and set it somewhere to do things inside it.

 

[LaPoulet]

When should I pull the little red plugs on the top of the incubator....when the eggs start to hatch? Has anyone figured out a more efficient way to open the lid to turn the eggs and stuff...I have to unplug the incubator because of the fan and take the lid all of the way off and set it somewhere to do things inside it.

What kind of incubator? I don't unplug mine, I just set it down somewhere. The fan shouldn't hit anything. If you remove the plugs, your humidity will drop a little but you can increase if needed.

 

[MeepBeep]

When should I pull the little red plugs on the top of the incubator....when the eggs start to hatch? Has anyone figured out a more efficient way to open the lid to turn the eggs and stuff...I have to unplug the incubator because of the fan and take the lid all of the way off and set it somewhere to do things inside it.

Unless it's taken you hours to turn the eggs don't worry about taking the lid off... Mommy birds get off the nest to go and get food and drink, the normal cool down periods are natural... As for the red plugs, some incubators have more than others, I personally like the ventilation and generally remove would remove the plugs, but some people have huge humidity drops when they do that, so it's a flip of the coin, see what works, but definitely remove them once the birds hatch they need the fresh air...

 

[BusyBearMama]

Things are going well- I have 3-4 eggs that haven't developed at all, maybe from the same bird and then all of the eggs of one color might be infertile which speaks to a specific hen, and I have one that apparently has a crack!? It's not all the way through and it's where the air cell is so we may be ok? But all the other eggs are developing well and should hatch not this but the following Thursday & Friday. If all goes well. Things are staying pretty stable. We had one half hour power outage in the night and it didn't bother the farm innovators incubator one bit. So incubator one is in good shape.
Incubator 2 the hova bator is iffy- I had 7 eggs in there they're about day 9? And I'm
Not seeing too much development, mostly I think one of the two hens they're from is avoiding the rooster. And I think the other two are developing but that's just two chicks at that hatch. Maybe. I filled the incubator and the other eggs I have no clue if they're developing or not but the power surge heated it up pretty good with some in there so I don't know what the state of things is. I worry about maybe some got a little too toasty but I will candle them all this coming week, they're not that far along that I can judge that situation yet. But there's a chance it's going well

 

[beetandsteet]

I'm trying to use a heat lamp to control the temp but I'm concerned that the lamp is heating up the actual plastic on the thermometer and its reading too high. Says its 100 but I think the air temp is a few degrees lower. Any thoughts?

As in, are you shining the lamp on the outside of your incubator? Or is the lamp the heating element in the incubator.

 

[Lanaep10]

It was above it. I have up on that set up and made a styrofoam incubator.

 

[BusyBearMama]

Anyone have any hatches yet!? I am putting my eggs in lockdown in a few days! I hope for a hatch Thursday!

 

[beetandsteet]

Anyone have any hatches yet!? I am putting my eggs in lockdown in a few days! I hope for a hatch Thursday!

Awesome! Make sure to post pics of the chicks once they hatch!

 

[tenman78]

Not yet,have 5 eggs on day 8 in my FI digital forced air.