Another way to make a stable temperature is to use quart jars filled with warm water and wrap them in towels.
You'll need to put the eggs in a plastic box on a towel and cover them with yet another- lightly, because you want air to move around them. Now, surround them with jars, keeping a distance of several inches from the eggs- you can use a big Rubbermaid tote for the set-up. You can use a ton of jars if you have a bunch, and stand them up, or if you have fewer, lay them down. Fill them with water about 105 degrees, and wrap each one in a hand- or dish-towel. You can lay a thermometer on top of the eggs to see how the temp is- you'll need to change the water every 4 or 5 hours, but less if you have more jars. You can change the water in every other jar to keep it more stable. So long as you leave the eggs in the center, they ought not change so much while you change the water- just pull out the jars all at the same time, close the box until your water has all been replaced- keep the box closed as much as possible. You'll want some holes around the top and in the bottom to allow air flow.
Read the incubation posts in here- there are many that talk about optimum temp and humidity, and the reasons why...99.5-101 for temps, and generally around 50% humidity for the first 18 days seems to be the common idea.
I hatched out 2 chicks for the last 4 days using a combination of my bra, a heating pad, and warm water in jars- it was a ginormous pain and I was a train wreck of stress by the time it was over!!
Did you know the hatching part can take over 24 hours, and YOU CAN'T HELP THEM?!?!?! They can bleed to death in a heartbeat if you pick away even the tiniest bit of shell for them. It's an amazing and yet very complicated process.
I encourage you to do this, but I also strongly suggest you read through all of the stickies on the hatching and incubating page, and learn as much as you can before you do this- there are going to be questions you'll have in there, and you'll be far better off knowing in advance. With that reading done before starting, you'll know the right questions to ask, and you'll know the right people to ask, too!
This is a very inspirational, fabulous experience you shouldn't miss- I have been hatching here with my daughters, and they have learned a lot- it's been great for us to learn together.
I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO want you to also make sure you can make an incubator environment that can stay stable. Put something together and test it for a couple of days- use 2 thermometers so you know one isn't off, and make sure your environment can stay stable for 21 days- up and down is going to kill developing chicks. Only when you can feel confident of the stable environment should you put in any eggs, and the fresher the better. Give those 2 back to your mom and get some the day you decide it's right.
I just don't want you to get something going and then have a slip-up and lose your babies- that's heartbreaking, but very common.
Good luck!!
