temperature issues in my new incubator

[Stephanie739]

I received my first incubator today, a homemade incubator. I am having a little bit of trouble getting the temperature right. I have tried a few different light bulbs. I am stuck hovering between 96/97 degrees using one bulb, and 103/104 degrees with the another. Should I use the hotter bulb and cut an air hole in the styrofoam? Any other suggestions?

 

[fried green eggs]

Does it have air holes already and a fan? Are you putting thermom. at eggs height/location?

 

[Stephanie739]

It came with 2 very small air holes, 1 on each side. I cut another hole about 1x3 inch near the top. I have a plastic covering over this and I have been playing around with it, trying to get the temp straight - covering the hole, opening it again, etc. When I woke up this morning, the temp was at 99 degrees and the humidity at 50 (this was by the thermometer on the wall of the bator - I didn't add the 2nd thermometer on the eggs until later this afternoon) I thought I was good to go and set the eggs around noon. Conditions changed when I placed my 29 eggs. I added more water and the humidity climbed very quickly to close to 70. It is around 50 again now. The temp dropped to about 90, but I've been watching it very closely all day. Its around 102 right now on the eggs (the highest its been all day) and 101 on the wall. I took the plastic off the extra air hole/window and am just watching for it to drop a bit. Right now the incubator is set exactly the way I had it when I went to bed last night, so I am expecting it to decrease a notch. If the temp on the wall drops to 99 (as it was this morning) I guess the egg thermometer will read 100 and everything should continue well. I do not have a fan.

 

[fried green eggs]

It's not unusual for the humidity to change when you first add eggs. The hole you added may be a bit big? maybe try covering just 1/2 of it. Do you have any heatsinks in the incubator? You can fill glass jars with warm water with the lids on and it may help your thermometer regulate better so you don't have so much temp swings. Hope this helps. Good Luck

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Get a plug in dimmer for a lamp use the hotter bulb and adjust to what is needed. They are only $10

 

[Stephanie739]

Get a plug in dimmer for a lamp use the hotter bulb and adjust to what is needed. They are only $10

I think this is what I need.

Oh I have had trouble and I'm only on day 2. When the temp dropped yesterday, and each time I turned the eggs (way low, 90 and under!) I decided to put in the hotter bulb again. When the temp reached 102 on the wall on 101 at egg level, I uncovered my large airhole. Over the next hour (this was probably around midnight) the temp wasn't going down and I was tired, so I lifted the top off slightly; about a 1/4 inch slit on one side of the cooler/incubator. I went to bed and set my alarm for 2. When I checked at 2, the temp seemed to be around 100, so I went back to sleep. When I woke this morning, the temp was under 90! Sometime during the night my daughter turned on the window ac....ugh (up to 6 hours under 90 degrees)

Sooo fast forward, I have now placed the eggs in styrofoam egg cartons so turning will be faster/easier (hopefully won't lose heat so quickly) and since my bottom isn't very level, the eggs will be more secure. I did cut holes in the bottoms of the cartons for air. I cracked an egg this morning when it slipped during turning.

I have put the cooler bulb (13 watt) back in and used a space heater and hair dryer to add heat. I have closed my large air hole and am waiting/hoping the temp will gradually make it back to 99.5 w/o anymore adjusting. And to make things even more confusing, all 3 thermometers read very differently right now - I just turned off the space heater (which seemed to be affecting the therm on the wall of the bator) I have 2 thermometers at egg level. One reads 101, the other 96. The one on the wall reads 112.

 

[JakeBremer]

The one that reads 112 is it by the light bulb? And is the 96 far away from the bulb? And is the 101 on the eggs? if so, that is okay.

 

[Stephanie739]

The one that reads 112 is it by the light bulb? And is the 96 far away from the bulb? And is the 101 on the eggs? if so, that is okay.

The one that read 112 (now down to 99) is on the wall. It was in the direct path of my space heater, so I wasn't too worried about that one. I am concerned about the differences of the temps at egg level. They are both equal distance from the bulb. They still read 96 and 101. The one at 96 is nearest to my large (1x3 inch) airhole, but the hole is covered with plastic. Perhaps the plastic is not enough...

 

[Stephanie739]

I just switched the places of the egg level thermometers, curious. I guess I will just cross my fingers and hope the temp gradually adjusts to the appropriate temp.

 

[Stephanie739]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-buddies-lets-have-some-fun/140#post_9109594 Here is an update. The therm on the wall was at 100, so the temp is dropping. ugh.