Made an incubator today

[BigM]

I'm playing with it and trying to learn how to manage the humidity and temp. Any suggestions?

BigM

[Granny Smith]

Got any plans you can link to so we can see what kind you made?

[BigM]

I took a Styrofoam cooler and added a glass viewing pane to the top. Then I put a bulb through the side with a dimmer control for a heat source, and a thermometer/humidity meter (I can't think of the term for it) inside. Viola!

I've been checking on it anytime I pass by and, if the humidity is low, I throw a steaming rag in for a couple of minutes until it comes up to where I want it again. I'm trying to hover at about 60% with a temp of 100-101. I'm going to try to post pics

[Granny Smith]

Try putting a bowl of water in it to raise the humidity. It will add moisture to the air longer than a rag so you won't have to fool with it as often.

[joanfromzone6]

Aug 7, 2012 9:09:32 GMT -5 Granny Smith said:

Try putting a bowl of water in it to raise the humidity. It will add moisture to the air longer than a rag so you won't have to fool with it as often.

good idea - and if it appears that the bowl alone does not add sufficient moisture, hang a dishrag or something to dangle into the water - it should wick up a considerably greater quantity of water to evaporate - changing location of the bowl/rag in relation to your heat lamp will also affect evaporation -

[Granny Smith]

Another option would be styrofoam egg cartons (just the bottoms), covered with a piece of screen. Putting a bit of water in each section would give more surface space, yet allow for longer periods between adding more water.

[Cyngbaeld]

A good thermostat is the most critical thing. I like the digitals but they are pricey. You can buy a wafer thermometer set up from an online poultry supply like Cutler's.
www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_32&products_id=307

If you decide to make a nicer, larger bator in future you can use the thermostat in it.

[BigM]

Thanks for the advice! Does anyone know how much fluctuation is to much? Or is it more about the amount of time in the fluctuations?

[joanfromzone6]

Aug 8, 2012 8:02:53 GMT -5 BigM said:

Thanks for the advice! Does anyone know how much fluctuation is to much? Or is it more about the amount of time in the fluctuations?

i think we are all guilty of becoming bogged down in detail sometimes -

the precision you suggest would be of great importance at a commercial hatchery where a small percentage change in hatch rate would impact the bottom line with dramatic effect -

at the other end of the spectrum is the momma hen who wanders away from the nest at odd times for odd periods of time - her failure to punch the timeclock probably does result in a lower hatch rate but so far i've not seen chickens placed on the endangered species list -

make your project fun and not something tedious - (somewhere in between the hatchery and the momma hen)

[Cyngbaeld]

Most critical to get the temp stable. A bowl of water with a sponge in it works ok for humidity.

If you can find a water snake toy, put the thermometer probe inside it and put it in the incubator on the tray with the eggs. Keep that temp at 99. It will be the egg temp.

[BigM]

That's kind of what I was thinking Joan. The temp stats about the same but humidity is changes. I'll just keep on with how we are doing it and pray we don't steam the eggs! lol

[Valerie]

I think I'll just stick with the momma hen method.

[BigM]

If I could get one to set I would! That would be MUCH easier! I bought a couple of boxes yesterday to attach to the side of the bird pen in the hope that it would help. I move the birds every couple of days and moving the "nest" wasn't working out. This way the nest essentially stays in the same place all the time for them. FC

Any suggestions as to how high up would be to high?

BigM

[BigM]

Today is the first day that we don't turn the eggs! We should have either baby chicks or sulfur bombs by Sunday!!

[BigM]

We have PEEPING!!! I had no idea that you could hear them while they are still inside the eggs!!