help please

kharvey5491 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:47 pm **Posts:** 53

hi all i am new to this and could really do with some help i have set up a styrofoam incubator have vent holes for ventilation, 25w globe for heat sorce, tray of water in bottom, glass from photo frame for window in side, hygrometer/thermometer, and 2 small digital thermometers. my problem is hygrometer/thermometer is reading 41.9c and 45% but 2 other thermometers are reading 37.1c and 37.5c which reading do i trust???? there are no eggs in there (i get my eggs on monday) and the probes for the thermometers are all in the same place roughly. any suggestions as to what reading would be correct? and what i can do to fix it would be great thanks, dont want to ruin my eggs

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

are the thermometers sitting on a wire floor above the water all lined up or hanging above the floor? Put a couple of store bought eggs in there and put the thermometer on top of them (just sitting there on top) and then take a reading and see what it says.

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

Yes as Kharvey said, its the egg temperature that counts. It should be between 37.8 oC and 38.2 if you want to be really exact, however as long as it fluctuates around 37 and 39 then thats pretty much OK.

Possibly the thermometers are calibrated differently? Put them right next to one another and check to see if they give the same reading.

A tiny little fan might be a useful addition to your incubator too so that the air circulates to make sure the temperature is even. You can get suitable ones designed for computers.

kharvey5491 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:47 pm **Posts:** 53

thanks for the answers guys, the probes are sitting in a row on the wire floor above the water dish, i will try putting a tray in there with some shop eggs and see what temp i get. just dont want to cook my first batch of

eggs. and as for the little fan does anyone know how to wire one of them up? i will see if i can find one but im not sure about wiring things. :-D

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

I googled and here are some video's I'm not sure if they will help you but if you google there are alot of different sites offering their ideas/help on homemade bators.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=homem ... CC8QqwQwAw

kharvey5491 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:47 pm **Posts:** 53

thanks for all your help!!!! i now have a computer fan hooked up and put in the incubator, i also have my store eggs (for trial temp) on a bed of rice in a tray with probe for thermometers sitting on top of the eggs and temp is sitting between 37c and 38c with a humidity of 50%.

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