Earlier in the summer, I was attending an auction with my parents when I spotted something very interesting: an old proofer, probably from a convenience store. I had recently tried and failed to build a cabinet incubator using materials I already had at home, and this proofer looked like a promising alternative to my original plans. Assuming it was in working condition, it was pretty much perfect. It already had a built in heating unit and thermostat, so it wouldn't cook my eggs like my home-made model did. It already had circulated air that would evenly distribute heat throughout the unit... It even had a pan for water with a valve to control how much humidity was produced. The only thing it didn't (and couldn't) have were egg turners, but I already had an idea of how to make that task easier. I plan on eventually building frames that I can push or pull to turn the eggs on the trays, without having to turn each egg individually.
I got the proofer for $40, and my parents and I loaded it up and took it home where it sat in the garage for a few months. Finally, when I had the space, I wheeled it inside and plugged it in to find out if it would even work as an incubator. I was apprehensive--if it couldn't heat up enough or maintain a consistent enough temperature, then there was no point going any further with the project, but after a few days of the temperature holding steadily just under 100º (according to my dinky kitchen thermometer) I decided it was worthwhile to invest in a digital thermometer and hygrometer. As luck would have it, I was able to snag one on clearance for $9, and it even has a remote sensor so that I can monitor the temperature at a glance from my desk where I work.
I gave it another day to make sure I could maintain heat and humidity levels to my satisfaction, and then I gathered together enough eggs to test each shelf of the unit.
To make monitoring the developing eggs easier, I was sure to include at least one white or light-shelled egg on each shelf.
First problem: the eggs like to roll around on the metal trays. I put down cloth to make that less of an issue, but I am going to need to switch to something better soon. I will likely use cheap wash rags as cushions until I've built the egg turning frames I'm imagining.
The eggs are in. Incubation begins!
(an egg that has not yet been incubated.)
Incubation begins at 12:00 PM August 2, 2016
I got the proofer for $40, and my parents and I loaded it up and took it home where it sat in the garage for a few months. Finally, when I had the space, I wheeled it inside and plugged it in to find out if it would even work as an incubator. I was apprehensive--if it couldn't heat up enough or maintain a consistent enough temperature, then there was no point going any further with the project, but after a few days of the temperature holding steadily just under 100º (according to my dinky kitchen thermometer) I decided it was worthwhile to invest in a digital thermometer and hygrometer. As luck would have it, I was able to snag one on clearance for $9, and it even has a remote sensor so that I can monitor the temperature at a glance from my desk where I work.
I gave it another day to make sure I could maintain heat and humidity levels to my satisfaction, and then I gathered together enough eggs to test each shelf of the unit.
To make monitoring the developing eggs easier, I was sure to include at least one white or light-shelled egg on each shelf.
First problem: the eggs like to roll around on the metal trays. I put down cloth to make that less of an issue, but I am going to need to switch to something better soon. I will likely use cheap wash rags as cushions until I've built the egg turning frames I'm imagining.
The eggs are in. Incubation begins!
(an egg that has not yet been incubated.)
Incubation begins at 12:00 PM August 2, 2016
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