Thoughts on tote incubator?

[Chelseyb123]

This is my second hatch. Im only doing another small batch of eggs (7). So far I can see development in all but maybe two eggs but its only day five. So far I haven't found to much about it unless a fan is uses. But im doing a dry bator method like I did before in a wood box an had good luck with. Now let me explain my set up.

Ok using a 18gal tote for where everything I place inside. I have cardboard on all sides Ive add a good size rock to help maintain some heat. And than this tote is placed inside another tote but a 21gal. Ive also placed a heating pad under it to help maintain heat as it rises. I also have vent hole two on each side at the top an four on the cover. Every day Ive been writing down everything that's been happening an when I check the temp and stuff. So far it does maintain heat at a decent rate but needs to stay constant it usually goes from 99-102°f and humidity at 25% constantly. But I did need to add water because it was to low. But I also think that if this was a hen the temp wouldn't always stay perfect and they aren't over heating because when I touch them they feel good and match the temp on my thermometer.

Anyone else they this method with no fan? Any tips would be appreciated.

Last two picture are before I added the vents.

 

[BantyChooks]

I have done a tote incubator, but with a fan. It worked well for a while, then it went haywire---I suspect the sides weren't stiff enough to keep the microswitch on the thermostat aligned.

 

[Chelseyb123]

Yeah my first batch of chicks I used heating pad under a plastic dog crate for the brooder worked great. An only had to use it for two weeks because they were in my living room. But i really hope this method works in a tote. Im doubt wanna have to go outta my way to get stuff to make. If I have it already that than awesome if not then find something else lol. Because if I gotta spend money on making one than id just by a cheap small one instead.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you can maintain those temps, you might have success. You could insulate between the 2 totes with some newspaper or folded towels. However, any time you mess with the set up, you will have to be very cautions that such change does not cause a heat spike.

Goal temp for still air (with heat source above) is 102 measured at the top of the eggs. But, where your heat source is under the eggs, I have no idea how that should correlate.

Also, beware, as the embryos mature, their increased metabolism will cause the temp in your bator to rise. Look for a temp spike at day 7 and day 14. You might have to make adjustments on a daily basis to account for embryo metabolism.

Is your household temperature pretty static? Mine fluctuates a lot, so I could not incubate without a thermostat. For your next project, you can easily add a thermostat.

 

[Chelseyb123]

I will try an get something in between the totes because i think that's probably the issue. And im home majority of the day other than bringing my boyfriend to work. So keeping a close eye them is easy.when I did my first batch in the wooden box the temp spiked to 111° the second week of incubation at night. Luckily I had woken up an was able to cool everything five outta eight eggs hatched after that on time. But I still want to put another thermometer to compare accuracy.

Also is there a cart or something that shows how much the egg should weigh at different stages? Because I did weigh all the eggs before placing them an measured. so that they were relatively the same with on another. Because with my first batch the eggs that hatched an were successful. And i didn't have to worry. About egg size because they were from my 2yr austarlops since They layed mature size eggs. These ones glw ×slw (4) and rir ×slw (3) are from younger hens about 1.5yr an sometimes lay smaller eggs than large ones.

I just really hope this works.

 

[Chelseyb123]

So far the temp has been pretty constant but the humidity keeps going down. I like it to stay around 25% and than increase once its lock down. So far only one egg had a blood ring. The rest are growing nicely. I just don't want to lose them if the humidity can't stay constant.

 

[Chelseyb123]

Update

So in three days I go into lock down. All eggs have developed beautifully. I'm super excited that this method actually worked for a still air hatch. I added more holes and insinsulation . temp has stay pretty presented.ill post pictures later!

 

[Chelseyb123]

Here it is. Also there are more vent holes on each side two near the tops. I have one rock in there that the sponge sits on. Card board all the way around. Than the 18gal tote sitars inside the 21gal one. And than I put some old pillowcases into help insulate the gap between the two totes. An than a cardboard box under it all.

 

[Chelseyb123]

For some reason having trouble loading pictures