Incubator observations and questions

This is my attempt at a homemade incubator. You can see the high/low thermometer and the little round hygrometer/thermometer through the window. You can also see the back of the little black fan I have facing the side (worried about too strong air currents over the eggs--should I be?) and the jelly jar with a sponge and water. I have been running it about a month (much to my DH distress, who can't understand why I keep fiddling with it) and it is pretty stable at 98-101 degrees and 65% humidity. I opened the ventilation holes a little more last night to bring the humidity down closer to 60-62. Now all I need are the eggs. Which will have to wait until mid-March after my work trip. No one would turn or watch over them while I'm gone:(

Someone else mentioned that an important factor is the room temp and that is a big problem for me because I don't have central heat or air and the safest room to keep the incubator in is basically unheated. I can check the temp before I go to work, at lunch and when I get home, but if the temperature goes up to say 103 for the 4-5 hours while I am gone will I lose the chicks? I haven't hooked up the thermostat yet--my light is from one of those work lights with the metal reflector and I would have to take the wires out and fiddle with them--I hate electricity......From what I understand, the thermostat would kick in when the temp dropped significantly low, say 88 degrees or significantly high, 105 and up. Does this happen quickly? Or, if the temp stays no higher than 102 for a few hours will that be similar to what the thermomstat would do?

I am so interested in what everyone else is doing, but the sickly chicks are so sad. One of my rooster was a little sick for a few days as a chick and then recovered completely--but I do know that the more you raise the more you are destinied to lose. It just is worth it.

Great looking incubator! I am jealous now! I would suggest moving, or removing, the fan. It looks like it would be blowing right were the eggs are...and they dont need that air movement. Mine faces up just under the light, and at the other end. If the temp goes up to 103 for a couple hours you will not kill your eggs. It could cause them to hatch a little soon if the temp stays for a prolonged time...but not likely if only a couple hours.

My chick 'Gimpy' that had the herniated umbilical cord (which we believe was caused by too high humidity) is fully healed. It did take about 3 days to get him going...but he has been in with the older chicks, and they are all over 3 weeks old now! I have more hatching on Friday in my styrofoam homade bator!

With your temp changes in the house I would go with the thermostat. As long as you use a buld that is warm enough, and dont have too many holes it should be fine. I wouldn't give up mine for anything! I didnt get it until the 3rd day of incubation...and I got it because I couldnt sleep at night. I was addicted to checking the temp every hour or so.

Hi mcamden--The fan is actually facing the closest "wall" of the incubator so it won't actually blow on the eggs. Now that you mention it, I think I can adjust it to blow straight up. The fan was the smallest one I could find this time of year. I am using a 25 watt bulb which seems warm enough, although I think you said you used a 40 watt. LoraK has offered to send me Marans and Silkie eggs when I get back from my work trip in mid-March. By then it will be warmer, maybe mid 60's low 70's outdoors. I have been using a dimmer switch (you just plug the light into it) to control the temp. I KNOW I should install the thermostat--I've already bought it and everything. Maybe tonight I will study the wiring diagram and see if I have the nerve. It would be a real "fail safe"

I am so glad Gimpy made it--he is lucky to have you to stand by him in his hour of need!

Sounds like you are doing just fine! I do have a 40 watt bulb in mine. I think I liked it because it warmed up pretty fast...so I didnt feel as though I was slow cooking the eggs. I just checked some of my eggs again, and I was watching the heart beat on my OEGH chick. She is the only hen that lays cream eggs...so I can easily see into the shell.

I've been resisting the 40 watt, but what you say makes sense--it does take a while to rewarm after I open the box and I would have to hang around until it hit the right temp and then adjust it--which is bad when you're always late for work--which I am. With a quicker rise in temp I could adjust it promptly--I'll try it tomorrow.

How exciting to see a heartbeat! Is it a standard OEGH? A bantam?

How are you candling your eggs? Building a candler is my next project--either that or I'll buy one, but they look pretty easy to build. Just a flashlight and a box with the right diameter hole in it, I think? All my chickens will lay brown eggs--so maybe not so easy.

I'm excited to see your next hatch! I hope you find time to post pictures...when is your wedding?

I believe she is standard. She is a small chicken who lays smaller eggs...but she is close to the size of my smallest RIR. One more day! I am going to do all my shopping today so i can stay home all day tomorrow and watch the eggs!

Best of luck to you, Cat! I love your bator, and being able to
see from this angle. Maybe you could put the fan on a reostat,
too, if you are worried it is too strong. That way, you could
adjust the speed down low. The circulating air is best, IMHO,
as the egg's temp is kept more uniform. I think it is awesome
there are many different incubators here for members to check
out. It's just like 'one stop shopping' for those who are
looking for just the one that meets their needs. It's going to be
difficult to have to wait til you get back from your trip!

may princess tammy have a great valentine's day.

Hello Catscan,

Your bator looks very nice and should work really well. I have 2 suggestions for you.

1) Do hook up that thermostat. It's a lot easier than you think. You can see my pictures on the "My Homemade Bator" thread. This is the only way to controll the temp inside the bator, and will also allow you to sleep at night.

2) Throw away the fan. (Oh, I can hear the gasps now). You have just built a still air incubator. No need for a fan. I know there is a lot of hype about a fan on many internet sites. I believe this is way overrated. Just keep you thermometer at the same level as the eggs and adjust your thermostat accordingly.

Good luck,

JB

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Ok,

This is pretty cool. I just found this site to backup my fan theory. Please read the whole page.

http://www.brinsea.com/customerservice/fitfan.html


Thanks,

JB

Thanks JB! That is a wonderful site--interesting too about the greater success with the still-air when used by "amateurs." I have been nervous about the fan--it blows much harder than seems necessary, which is why I faced it away from where the eggs will be. I've been wondering too about how any hen in even remotely natural conditions could possible keep such extremely strict temp and humidity levels.

I will remove the fan and work with the thermometer/hygrometer. I think the fan was making it harder to regulate the humidity--and mostly I was struggling with it dropping too low. This should be better.

I was going to buy a Brinsea until I saw mcamden's incubator and read your threads. Keeping the room a stable temp is going to be a challenge. The climate here means that people have gotten by without central heat or air. My house is one of the oldest around and it was well built to moderate temps--but it does get very cold in the room I will use for the incubator (it is dog-proof) and the little heater I use to keep the chill off is hardly able to keep a stable temp--although it does have a thermostat of sorts.

Off topic: My chicks from Meyers will be here the 20th. I need to clean out everything from my dearly-departed roosters (re-homed not deceased), is a 10% bleach solution adequate--or do I need to go out and by a special disinfectant?

Thank you again for all your help!

The room temperature won't be an issue once you install the thermostat. The light will cycle more often when the room is cold and vise-versa.

What exactly are you cleaning with the bleach solution? If it's the coop area bleach may not be needed at all. I would just remove all old bedding material and manure, let it air out for a week or so and re-apply new straw. I always kept my hens as high as possible in the coop. For the fully feathered chicks, I built a ladder they could climb to get to the top.

I only used bleach in the bator between hatches.

JB

Thank you JB. I will be using my bator for the first time this year. But since it has been stored in the garage, and I noticed it was kind of dusty, I will be cleaning it with bleach before I use it, just to be on the safe side.

I, too, only clean out the old straw in the coop, but since I can't leave it empty for a week, (the chickens wouldn't have anywhere to sleep), I just have to put the clean straw in it and hope for the best. We haven't had any trouble with disease with our chicks since we started.

Johnnyb and granny--I didn't really describe the disinfectant problem--my late roosters were brooded in the same dog kennel that I kept them in outside. My DH is still building a permanent coop (5 months and counting) and I had such good luck with the first boys in the kennel that I was planning to reuse it to brood--but it is not the pristine brooder it once was. I have had it opened up (the top half comes off--that's how I used it as a brooder) and left it in the sun--Yes we have sun right now and it is in the high 60's--but I am worried about carry over from everything that got into it while my roosters were free-ranging. Maybe I should just start over with a new storage tub?

Also--I took the fan out of the incubator and put in a 40 watt bulb: the temp promptly shot up to 114 and the humidity dropped to 40--Guess this will take some tinkering and A THERMOSTAT. I am determined to put it in this weekend.
My Meyers' chicks are due the 20th. I am so excited (eggcited?) and nervous. It is suppose to be 6 with a heating pad--the special small order. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again everyone.

Ok, I know what you mean now...I was thinking of using my cat carrier as a brooder for the chicks that I was hoping we would get by the hen setting on those three eggs. And the top comes off of that one, too. Of course it is about 25 years old, and has been used by numerous cats going to the vet. But it would have been just the right size for three chicks. But, alas, the eggs froze and no chicks now.

So, if you have the time to bleach it and let it air out for a few days, I don't see why you couldn't use it for a brooder. I don't think the bleach would be leaving any residue if you rinse it out thoroughly.

Yea! Chicks abound! Let us know how your chicks are,
Cat. Today is your big day. :o)
I am using tupperware tubs for the quail and the new chicks
hatching today. I put in 2" of bedding, then paper towels on
top of that for a few days. DH made wire tops for them, and I
like being able to see them from the side. A pet carrier is
probably as good as anything, and can be cleaned well, too.


may princess tammy have a wonderful wednesday.

bump!