I think great minds think alike. We were doing these things a long time ago amd had many threads on them. It's good to see newbies hard at it.
Here are some more things to ponder, from many seasons of experience.
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Instead of water balloons, try some ceramic tiles or flat stones below the screen. They still provide thermal buffering, but dont take up any space in the bator.
Instead of culling clears, leave them in to add their own buffering effect.
Leave the bator alone! Candle at day 7 and 14 and stay out the rest of the time.
If you are hand turning, dont open the bator - just reach in through the window and move them around with your hand.
Make a jacket of bubble wrap to insulate you bator from temp extremes, being mindful of the vent holes.
To isolate your bator from temp excursions in the room, place the unit in the bottom of a little used closet.
Place it on a piece of 1" styro insulating board.
Use a water weasel to monitor temps, with a good remote probe thermometer.
Practice "Dry Incubation."
Get a cigar hygrometer for monitoring humidity.
Here are some more things to ponder, from many seasons of experience.
=============================================
Instead of water balloons, try some ceramic tiles or flat stones below the screen. They still provide thermal buffering, but dont take up any space in the bator.
Instead of culling clears, leave them in to add their own buffering effect.
Leave the bator alone! Candle at day 7 and 14 and stay out the rest of the time.
If you are hand turning, dont open the bator - just reach in through the window and move them around with your hand.
Make a jacket of bubble wrap to insulate you bator from temp extremes, being mindful of the vent holes.
To isolate your bator from temp excursions in the room, place the unit in the bottom of a little used closet.
Place it on a piece of 1" styro insulating board.
Use a water weasel to monitor temps, with a good remote probe thermometer.
Practice "Dry Incubation."
Get a cigar hygrometer for monitoring humidity.