Incubator Queries

[hoad]

Hi guys, In the process of building an incubator and decided to go with the damp vermiculite as a base inside plastic tubs 3/4 filled, and also decided to use a heat cord as the heat source as it ensures even distribution of heat. Now, my only problem is, Will enough heat be generated by the heat cord for the boxes to sit on top of the heat cord and still give the eggs 32 degrees C through the vermiculite etc, And where do i put the thermostat probe? on top of the vermiculite where the eggs would be presumably. Fairly self explanatory stuff, just figured better safe then sorry

Regards, Nick.

 

[Vixen]

I will let someone more experienced answer, but one thing i'll add (which should have been common sense but I wasnt thinking due to the excitement :x), when placing the thermostat probe make sure the cord is not in direct with any of the eggs. I made this mistake last season, and with the condensation forming on the cord it started forming mold on the egg, then spread to a few surrounding ones aswell. Luckily most hatched but one died in the egg a day prior to hatching.

 

[hoad]

bump

 

[No-two]

I have the probe outside the egg containers. I have a fridge set up with heat cords (on a dimmer stat) and two fans, I had the same last season but with lights instead of heatcord so far this is keeping temperatures much more stable.

 

[sweetangel]

how have u made ur incubator. it is sounding like u are going to put the eggs directly in the incubator. what might be a better idea is to make ur incubator with heat cord around the edges of the box they but some sort of grate/ raised area to put an egg box on. then u put the vermiculite in the egg box and the probe inside the egg box not touching the eggs. this is what i have done. u would not want the egg box directly on the heat source so the heat can move around the box warming evenly. the heat cord will give enough heat through into the second box provide ur incubator is airtight and insulated. i use a styro box for incubator and a chinese container for egg box hope that helps

 

[hoad]

Does the styrobox melt with the heat cord on it?