Another of Robin's Obsessive Question

[rabernet]

OK - so Tim Bailey and I were talking this evening and there's a good chance that Pandora will be laying in the next day or two (btw Tim, tail is on the inside of the coil now).

Anywhooo, I actually expected her to go last of my three, but I was out of town for a week the third week of March, so I likely missed her ovulation and Echo's.

So - using Justin's old incubator - the thermostat probe goes into the back of the incubator and is free inside the incubator (not inside an egg box).

The AccuRite is also inside the incubator and probe isn't in the eggbox yet (I forgot and press and sealed the box). SOOO, when I have three clutches in there - the incubator is slap FULL, because I'm using 12 quart Rubbermaid locking lid tubs, rather than six quart.

Here's the question:

Do I let the thermostat probe hand behind the egg boxes? (the flexwatt is on the door of the fridge, the thermostat probe comes in the back of the fridge through the same small hole that the flexwatt and fan cords come out of).

Do I put the thermostat probe on the lip of the second tub on the side of the incubator so it's equal distance from the front and back of the incubator?

I don't want hot spots in the front if the egg boxes are blocking the heat from reaching the probe, but there is a fan circulating air, and there is space under the egg boxes to fill with water bottles (the first egg box sits on a shelf and the other two stack on top).

I do have three six quart shoebox tubs I can switch to if these are too monster. My largest clutch should be six eggs.

[janeothejungle]

Step 1: Place head between legs and take a few breaths.



Step 2: Are you putting separate temp gauges in each egg box? That will be your real cue for maneuvering the 'stat probe. You just need to find the area and spacing that gives you the most even temps throughout.


Cheers,
Kat

[rabernet]

Step 1: Place head between legs and take a few breaths.



Step 2: Are you putting separate temp gauges in each egg box? That will be your real cue for maneuvering the 'stat probe. You just need to find the area and spacing that gives you the most even temps throughout.


Cheers,
Kat

I'm going to pick up the small digital fish thermometers Tim posted on another thread to have one for each box. I have the AcuRite mounted inside the incubator and planned to put the probe of it in the middle egg box - but I'm definitely going to get more.

[jkobylka]

Robin, It will be ok! and congrats on the upcoming clutch

I'm having a hard time picturing what egg boxes you are using, but is it possible to hang the probe down in the middle between them? That's what I always did.

Kat's idea was good, it will let you mess with it until its right. I don't think you would really go wrong though if you put the probe in the front or back. The fan should take care of you.

Justin

[rabernet]

Haha Justin! I just PM'd you - I'll snap a picture really quick!

[jkobylka]

cool. I use sterile shoebox tubs for anything up to like 8 eggs. For the bigger clutches I use the 6 quart rubbermaids or whatever I have on hand that will fit the eggs comfortably

JUstin

[rabernet]

OK - here's how I'm currently set-up:







With the third tub in there:


Where I'd put probe on side:

[jkobylka]

I don't think putting it on the side like you have pictured is a bad idea, but id only be afraid that it would get knocked off to somewhere you didn't want it. I also think its better to have it hanging somehow so its measuring air temp not the temp of the plastic its touching.

Is it too late to switch to a smaller container? Are you sure that you will have all three clutches in the incubator at the same time?

Justin

[rabernet]

Not too late to switch to smaller at all - I have the six quart Sterilite shoebox tubs (three of them) as well.

There's no way for the probe to be knocked off the side (no gap between the egg box and the side).

And yes - very likely all three clutches will be in at the same time, although the third will be about 30 - 45 days after the second clutch (she just ovulated earlier this past week).

[dsirkle]

What do you call that incubator, Pandora's Box?