Hovabator questions

[JordanAng420]

Hey guys,
So after numerous failed (and quite embarrasing) attempts at constructing a home-made incubator for this season, I threw in the towel and ordered a Hovabator online.

I ordered the thermal air flow model, which arrived today, brand new from a popular online company, and between me and my husband, we brainstormed & tried our best set it up the way it instructed us to (taking into consideration the instructions are made for chicken eggs). A picture of our model is attached. We have several questions.

1. What exactly is a proportional thermometer? What brand do you guys use SUCESSFULLY in your incubators? What's mid-priced & available in many different places?

2. Should I tape over the vent holes in the middle, and the ones surrounded by the red plastic?

3. How much water do I need to add to the bottom of this thing? Do I do it weekly, like the thing says, when I open the container for the air-exchange?

4. Do I need something to regulate the temperature & avoid fluctuations on the rack with the egg containers (like a bowl/bottle of water...) I've heard of some people doing this.

5. What's the best place in the house to keep it in?

I wanted to make sure my incubator is set up and ready for when Annie lays her eggs later on this season. Sorry so many questions, thanks in advance.

 

[JordanAng420]

The container in the 'bator is a test-run with appropriatly soaked perlite.

 

[acpart]

I'll give it a shot:

1. What exactly is a proportional thermometer? What brand do you guys use SUCESSFULLY in your incubators? What's mid-priced & available in many different places?

This kind of thermostat (not thermometer) allows the thermostat to run the heat on a continuum instead of just "on" or "off" so it should be easier to maintain consistent heat (the on/off kind will turn on or off when the heat passes a certain point but then there's some down time before it clicks into its other mode again). THese kind of thermostats are a bit more expensivel. I use the one from BIg Apple Herp because at the time (2005) it seemed the best value. To operate it, turn the built in thermostat at the top of the hobovator to its highest setting. Plug the hobovator into the proportional thermostat and plug that into the wall. Feed the probe of the proportional thermostat through one of the vent holes and lay it on top of one of your containers. I feed the digital thermometer probe through the same hold and try to keep the 2 probes in the same place so I can monitor temp.

2. Should I tape over the vent holes in the middle, and the ones surrounded by the red plastic?
I don't know how necessary it is, but it can be done.

3. How much water do I need to add to the bottom of this thing? Do I do it weekly, like the thing says, when I open the container for the air-exchange?
see below.

4. Do I need something to regulate the temperature & avoid fluctuations on the rack with the egg containers (like a bowl/bottle of water...) I've heard of some people doing this.

Most people don't put water in the bottom of the hobovator, but they do use a bowl or bag of water either below the grating or on top of it to help with temperature regulation.

5. What's the best place in the house to keep it in?
In my opinion, you need a place with the following criteria:
--easy for you to see into it and remove the cover without having to move the whole hobovator (so, for example, keeping it under a bureau is not a good idea)
--if possible, keep it in a place with the least ambient temp fluctuation
--the ambient temp should not exceed your incubation temp since the hobovator heats but does not cool. I keep my hobovator in my bedroom in the spring and fall, but in the summer, when the temp in my non-airconditioned 3rd floor gets well into the 80's, I put the hobovator in the basement.

I hope this helped.

Aliza

 

[JordanAng420]

Thanks, Aliza. Thats exactly what I needed

 

[THE WHISPERER]

I tape the holes and use cotton for the cord hole. as for the water I use a 1 gallon zip lock put the water in it then put that in another zip lock and lay it flat on the bottom. as for placement I try and put it away from areas that might flux in temps(window or outside door).Hope this helps some

 

[ShaffersExoticHerps]

I know everyone has their own ways and I will probably be wrong to some members, but this has worked for me.
First of all my Hovabator has no fan. I heard the fan on these small incubators can cause the eggs to get too dry. But that could be wrong, so anyway.. I make sure the incubator is running at the correct temp by letting it run for a good 2-3 hours first. I keep a thermometer in the incubator to monitor the temp. The temp does flucuate a little with these incubators, I just make sure when it kicks on it doesn't go past the temp I want to keep it at. The temp will rise just a little after it shuts off too! Once the temp is right, I mix the vermiculite or perlite to the correct consistency in the container I am using. Cody at Pro Geckos has a good mixing ratio. When you get eggs place them in the medium you decide to use and seal the container tight with no holes. Place it in the incubator and that's about it. I don't tape holes or anything. Once a week I open the container for air exchange and that's it. I never put water in the bottom of the incubator, just in the mix. I never add water again either, although if the eggs start to collapse or dimple too early you can add some to the sides of the egg container. I know everyone does it different, but if my eggs were fertile, I had about a 100% success rate this way. Hope this helps.

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Taping the holes will keep heat from escaping, and a container or bag of water in the hovabator will help keep the temps from fluxuating.

 

[ShaffersExoticHerps]

Like I said everyone does it different. I'm just stating the obvious, which is, it's not needed. I have a hatch rate that proves it. As for the water bag, it will not keep temps from fluxuating, it will just help with hot/cold spots and keep the heat distributed evenly. It's a pretty good idea though.

Taping the holes will keep heat from escaping, and a container or bag of water in the hovabator will help keep the temps from fluxuating.

 

[JordanAng420]

I've had it on at 84 degrees since I received it...seems to be steady with no fluxuations so far, and I haven't taped any holes or added anything yet...but I want to experiment with these different suggestions and see what happens...the more input, the better so thank you everyone!

 

[ShaffersExoticHerps]

I've had it on at 84 degrees since I received it...seems to be steady with no fluxuations so far, and I haven't taped any holes or added anything yet...but I want to experiment with these different suggestions and see what happens...the more input, the better so thank you everyone!

Yeah, the best thing to do is, do what you are comfortable with. Good luck with it!