New Incubator

And a big thanks to Chris for such a nice bator to start out with. it works great and is holding temps steady at 87(this an ok temp to incubate at?).

I am using those rubbermaid red-topped 1.6? gallon containers. They have about an inch to an inch and a half of vermiculite and perlite mixed. It's wet but firm enough to hold the grate up without sinking. If I can improve anything, let me know.

First picture is of the small baby rack I built for SarahMB. Holds 9 6qt tubs and has 3" flexwatt parallel wired through the rack.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0002-1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0003-3.jpg

Incubator:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0007-4.jpg

Wow looks great man!!! Cant wait to get my rack up in running soon. I bought a 41 qt and a 31 qt tub yesterday so I can start the measurments already. Great looking incubator. What you got cooking?

I use those same tubs, but the best temp is 89-90

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

And a big thanks to Chris for such a nice bator to start out with. it works great and is holding temps steady at 87(this an ok temp to incubate at?).

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SantaPython strikes again :8:

I would suggest to raise the temp to 88-89. Also...if you only have one clutch going at a time it's ok to put the thermo probe in the egg box. However if you introduce another clutch of eggs place the probe outside the egg box in the incubator. The reason being is that eggs generate their own heat(especially in the last couple of weeks). I hope this helps. Can't wait for you to have eggs and pippers noob Ecky :gj:

What are the measurements on that rack?

pretty cool shtuff. ;)

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

And a big thanks to Chris for such a nice bator to start out with. it works great and is holding temps steady at 87(this an ok temp to incubate at?).

I am using those rubbermaid red-topped 1.6? gallon containers. They have about an inch to an inch and a half of vermiculite and perlite mixed. It's wet but firm enough to hold the grate up without sinking. If I can improve anything, let me know.

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Nice looking rack and incubator, Becky! Don't worry about adding too much water if you're using a grate. The vermiculite will actually float above the water if you put too much in. Oh, and I'd probably bump up the temps to 88. I think the lower and upper limits of incubating temps are between 86 and 92, so 88 gives you a little leeway in both directions.

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Originally Posted by cueball

...if you only have one clutch going at a time it's ok to put the thermo probe in the egg box. However if you introduce another clutch of eggs place the probe outside the egg box in the incubator. The reason being is that eggs generate their own heat(especially in the last couple of weeks). I hope this helps.

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I had wondered about that...makes sense. If the eggs are generating their own heat, the thermostat gets confused and doesn't run the heat source as much as it should.

Good to know, thanks guys! :)


Would taping the probe to the ceiling of the incubator and letting it hang in mid-air be ok?

I should have one clutch any day now and another clutch by the end of the month. Sure hope those rubbermaid tubs are big enough! I wish I could have gotten those rectangular ones but didn't know if they would fit in the 'bator.

I'll bump the temps up a degree!

Very cool!! I like the window.

Oh wow, Becky, that rack looks awesome! Looks like Jeff's penguin will be looking for a new spot :giggle:

This weekend is going to be so much fun! :devilish:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Would taping the probe to the ceiling of the incubator and letting it hang in mid-air be ok?

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Becky, that should work fine. I actually have mine hanging from a shelf about midway down the bator. Remeber that heat rises, so if you put it too close to the top, you are more prone to get cooler temps at the bottom of the bator. I'd try to hang it closer to the middle.

Nice rack and incubator!

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Originally Posted by muddoc

Becky, that should work fine. I actually have mine hanging from a shelf about midway down the bator. Remeber that heat rises, so if you put it too close to the top, you are more prone to get cooler temps at the bottom of the bator. I'd try to hang it closer to the middle.

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Ok guys now I am confused.. should I take the thermostat probe out of my egg box and let it be inthe open air of the bator? I have 2 clutches cooking now.

BTW, great set up becky

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Originally Posted by Sevo

Ok guys now I am confused.. should I take the thermostat probe out of my egg box and let it be inthe open air of the bator? I have 2 clutches cooking now.

BTW, great set up becky

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I believe they are talking about the thermometer probe, not the thermostat probe. In my opinion, the thermostat probe should be taped directly to the heat source.

EDIT: After rereading, it looks like they might have been referring to the thermostat probe. Regardless, I would attach it to the heat source and definitely wouldn't put it in the egg box.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I believe they are talking about the thermometer probe, not the thermostat probe. In my opinion, the thermostat probe should be taped directly to the heat source.

EDIT: After rereading, it looks like they might have been referring to the thermostat probe. Regardless, I would attach it to the heat source and definitely wouldn't put it in the egg box.

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I read this a lot, and it always confuses me. I don't understand why anyone would want the thermostat probe directly on the heat source. It seems that this would cause the heat source to stay at a set temp., even if the ambient air temp changes. If you wanted that, why not just use a rheostat? I would think that you would want the thermometer probe in the egg box, and the thermostat probe just outside the egg box for the most consistant temps. inside the box when the ambient temp. around the incubator changes. Can somebody clear this up for me once and for all?

I'll post pics later when I get home. I'll wrap the tstat probe around the middle shelf(in the exact middle of the bator). I'm using a regular Herpstat, if that matters.

Thermometer probes in egg boxes, thermostat probe wrapped around a shelf and dangling in the middle of the bator. Gotcha :)

And can a few people post pictures of what they use for egg boxes? I'm a bit limited in what sizes I can use, and want to be sure what I am using won't be too small.

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

I read this a lot, and it always confuses me. I don't understand why anyone would want the thermostat probe directly on the heat source. It seems that this would cause the heat source to stay at a set temp., even if the ambient air temp changes. If you wanted that, why not just use a rheostat? I would think that you would want the thermometer probe in the egg box, and the thermostat probe just outside the egg box for the most consistant temps. inside the box when the ambient temp. around the incubator changes. Can somebody clear this up for me once and for all?

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Honestly, if you are looking for a definitive answer - you won't find one.

For example, in an incubator that is large, very well insulated, and has great air movement inside, keeping the internal heat source at 89 will probably leave the whole of the incubator, including egg boxes, at 89 as well.

However, if you have a small incubator or an incubator that isn't well insulated, placing the probe inside the egg box is probably the best. The interior of the incubator will basically serve as a buffer zone between the heat source and the egg box.

And some people incubate clutches on top of their hot water heater :)

Do what works for you. For me, I know what works.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

And some people incubate clutches on top of their hot water heater :)

Do what works for you. For me, I know what works.

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An old, rickety, uninsulated water heater at that, lol...

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

An old, rickety, uninsulated water heater at that, lol...

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That's what I'm doing next season!! :carrot:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Do what works for you. For me, I know what works.

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I dont know what works for me yet :rolleye2:..

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Originally Posted by Sevo

I dont know what works for me yet :rolleye2:..

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Then I say go with what is proven to work. Hovabators are absolute dog crap. Save them for incubating chicken eggs. When you can build an incubator out of an insulated wooden box with some shelving, flexwatt and a good, quality proportional thermostat for under $300, why would you do anything else?

EDIT: If you need to save some money and only have one or two clutches, the Coleman insulated cooler method with water, bricks and an aquarium heater hooked up to a good, quality proportional stat works well too! I built one of those for $40 plus thermostat.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Then I say go with what is proven to work. Hovabators are absolute dog crap. Save them for incubating chicken eggs.

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I agree.. Actually i dont even trust them to chicken eggs.:rolleyes:

I have my incubator made out of an old upright freezer with flex watt inside and 2 120V cpu fans. I have a Ranco for the thermostat.

So keeping the thermostat probe in the egg box is not what others are doing? I think that is what Kevin at NERD said to do in his book..

Ok, here's where the probe is hanging currently. I was thinking about moving both shelves down one level so both egg boxes are in the middle of the fridge. The heat should be more even there, right?

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0001-3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0002-2.jpg

Becky,
I would say that if those are the only two boxes you will be putting in there this year, then put the probe in between the boxes, and that should regulate the temp to be about the same in both boxes. Then just adjust the thermostat to read what you want, and you'll be golden.