what size light bulb for incubator??

[flowerchicks]

I made a small still-air bator out of a thick, styrofoam used to ship fish. It is about 1 ft wide, 1 1/2 ft long and about a foot high. I have a plastic window on top, and vent holes on top and on 2 sides, about 3/4 inch wide. I tried using heating pad to incubate 3 eggs, but had trouble keeping the heat from fluctuating (97-104), though I could keep it around 101 pretty consitantly. I had one egg get to about day 15 or 16 before dying, the other 2 quite after about 7 days. I want to install a small light bulb for heat instead of the heating pad, but I have no idea how many watts to use. Can anybody give me some suggestions to start with. It's such a small bator I was thinking a night light (or 2) may do the trick. Thanks

 

[ChickGirl6]

I made my incubator too and started with a 34 watt light bulb but had to go to a 15 watt bulb with a dimmer to get the temp right. I tried a 7 1/2 watt bulb but it was to low of watt I was only getting to 96*.

 

[flowerchicks]

ooooh.....a dimmer, what a good idea! is your bator about the same size?

 

[ChickGirl6]

Yes my bator is, I used a styrofoam box used to ship cold things. I work at a vet and got it from work for free.