Critique my incubator please

[Kroberts10]

I just assembled an incubator for when my girl, in the hopefully not so distant future lays. And I'd like some critiques before she does lay.

I used an insulated shipping box a batch of frozen rats came in. Heated with a heat pad that's plugged into a Herpstat 1. I put a thermometer in there to help monitor the temp. The probes are taped so they will be online with the center of the egg tubs. I have 1 plastic tub in the bottom with water and will put a water bottle or two in the bottom o hold more water, to help hold the heat when I open the lid. The box won't quite hold a sterilite shoe box, but will hold two of the plastic tubs that are only a little smaller, but make better use of the space. They are just as deep, about the same width, and only an inch or two shorter. I plan to use vermiculite in the tubs with the eggs.

So anything I missed or could modify to work better?

Thanks,
Kyle




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[paulh]

Basic design looks pretty good to me. I just wonder if it is big enough.

And it looks to me as if the plastic boxes rest directly on the heat pad. I suggest rigging up something to keep the boxes off the heat pad, which would give better heat distribution.

[Kroberts10]

Yup it's sittin gon the pad. I can put some spacers under it to let the heat distribute. Each tub is 8" X 5"x3.2" deep, These are internal dimensions. Not big but I'm hoping between the two they will be large enough to handle a clutch at a time until I can make a larger one. If it works for one clutch, I'm happy.

Kyle


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[piedlover79]

It might not work for one clutch if that clutch ends up stuck together and they usually do. The 3.2 inches deep is going to be an issue because by the time you get perlite and a grate in there you'll only have 2 inches or so for the egg and if one is stuck on top of the others (which I ended up with) you're never going to get it in there.

[Kroberts10]

How deep would be good to go with? I've never messed with BP eggs before, so I'm not exactly sure of how much room a clutch typically takes up. I've still got time to find something that works well. Worst case I can make a tub that fits, or make a larger incubator to work better with proper tubs.

Kyle


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[PitOnTheProwl]

6qt tubs work best but I did have a girl lay 10 eggs on me and I had to use one of the wifes cake boxes because I couldnt separate them on time.

[piedlover79]

I have a 'Useful Box' from Staples. Great box. It's 6 inches deep