Trying to incubate without an incubator

[Mcombs]

So I got a heat lamp, 125w. A plastic tub, bowls of water and hay. I’ve been trying for hours to get the right temp/humidity. I know they say it’s either impossible or very hard to use a heat lamp to make an incubator, because of the heat. But here’s the thing. My humidity is perfect. But my temp is low 90s. I’ve tried different rooms. And all kinds of different layouts with the heat lamp/water / eggs. Nothing is working. My bedroom the humidity was too low, highest I got the heat was 97. In my living room the humidity is perfect but can’t get the temp higher than low 90s. I really do not want to go spend a bunch of money on an incubator right now. I’ve also tried with a light bulb(temp stayed 75, humidity went up to 69)

 

[Crestcrazy2]

Could you post a picture of the setup

 

[diamondsilkies]

You could try putting a heating pad under the whole setup, in addition to the lamp, to help warm things up.

 

[Kuekenkrazy]

It's probably a bit hard to see but I am doing mine with a heat lamp in a cooler (no drilled holes) some hardware cloth, a USB fan and a picture frame. I am doing a dry incubation so I'm not to worried about humidity at the current moment. It takes a close eye and lots of fine adjustments but I was finally able to keep my temp steady.

 

[Kuekenkrazy]

Just Keep check on it

 

[Mcombs]

Could you post a picture of the setup

Here it is right this second. I’m going to have to redo it though. Not working. I woke up around 3 looked in there and it was still the same, 90s perfect humidity. Looked just now and it was 104, humidity in the 30s. I’m going to mess with it some more. The eggs probably aren’t even good anymore.

 

[Mcombs]

It's probably a bit hard to see but I am doing mine with a heat lamp in a cooler (no drilled holes) some hardware cloth, a USB fan and a picture frame. I am doing a dry incubation so I'm not to worried about humidity at the current moment. It takes a close eye and lots of fine adjustments but I was finally able to keep my temp steady.

This is my first time owning chickens. I’ve just been reading articles, watching videos, and asking friends advice. But the articles I read said the humidity was really important, because it would shrink wrap the chicks if it’s low. Do you have a good hatch rate with that? I was hoping one of my hens would go broody so I wouldn’t have to worry about this stuff.

 

[Kuekenkrazy]

This is my first time owning chickens. I’ve just been reading articles, watching videos, and asking friends advice. But the articles I read said the humidity was really important, because it would shrink wrap the chicks if it’s low. Do you have a good hatch rate with that? I was hoping one of my hens would go broody so I wouldn’t have to worry about this stuff.

Here's an article on it. Humidity is critical for lockdown but this is my first time trying this dry method:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...h-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method.47694/

 

[Kuekenkrazy]

I should probably add I am checking my temp almost constantly like every 30 minutes or so. The incubator is right next to my bed at night aswell. so far though I have been able to stay in perameters but it is quite nerve racking, but has been a good distraction for our family from the current events in the world. The extra moisture I will be adding with a humidifier in my room when lockdown time comes. I currently maintain a 20-30 percent humidity with the small water tray and a feedertube.

 

[Mcombs]

I should probably add I am checking my temp almost constantly like every 30 minutes or so. The incubator is right next to my bed at night aswell. so far though I have been able to stay in perameters but it is quite nerve racking, but has been a good distraction for our family from the current events in the world. The extra moisture I will be adding with a humidifier in my room when lockdown time comes. I currently maintain a 20-30 percent humidity with the small water tray and a feedertube.

Yesterday morning i had an idea and changed the layout. I took an old shoe box and put the eggs and thermometer in it then filled the bottom of the tub with about an inch of water. Propped the shoebox above the water on one side and put the lamp on the other side mostly over the water, just a little bit over the eggs. And I’ve had a constant temp of 100 since. The humidity stays in the mid 30s to low 40s. I’m hoping that’ll work and the eggs are still good. I think I’m going to collect some more eggs and put them in there too, and just write the date on them.