Not new to this but this year I am trying a different method. In the past I have used hovabators with great success. The only problem with hovabators is capacity.
I've placed a piece of 2 inch rigid insulation down as the bottom base. I then have an 11x17 heat pad hooked up to a rheostat set at 88 degrees. I have a 30/32 quart rubbermaid container with about a dozen holes drilled in one side. I've added a 1 inch layer of perlite across the bottom and added water until it is fully saturated. Not slushy but as much as it can hold. I then placed the egg crate light diffuser grid over the top of the perlite. I've got a small clutch sitting on top of the plastic egg crate diffuser with the probe from the rheostat right next to the eggs. I've also placed a thermometer next to the probe to compare temps with the rheostat. The humidity seems very high with condensation on all sides including the top but it has not dripped down onto the eggs. It seemed a little high so I used a dry towel and wiped the sides a few times to remove some of the condensation. The problem is that the eggs are not fully plump. There are a few dents showing that they are dehydrating. I find this hard to believe since the box has condensation on all sides.
Do I need to make the perlite/water mix slushy?
Does the box need to have condensation dripping on the sides?
Advice and pics would really be appreciated. I'm ready to go back to using vermiculite.
thanks in advance
John Q
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Need some advice on incubating with perlite and the egg crate light diffusers
Replies (3)
Heya John,did you catch this post of mine?
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=782557,782557
While this is my first year to incubate anything,mine seem to be doing very well.Their eggbox is filled a bit deeper than yours though(perlite),and i have not touched the condensation on the sides either.
good luck
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Charles Glaspie
as recommended by Tony Hurt. I have had zero problems except for the fact that I was using Sterelite boxes, and my eggs started to dent a little. I moved them last night to a box with a tight lid, and I am hoping they will all rehydrate. We will see. One clutch is still 100% perfect using this method. I have 2" of perlite, and the water up to the top of the perlite. Then the Celing grid placed on top of that. I like it.
Jason
Ah. .I wondered what set up Tony had going on there. He has a clutch of my eggs in his incubator and I wasn't use to seeing them done like that. I'm used to seeing the vermiculite mixture. I like that way better.
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Violette Garcia
www.shakahnsgrove.com
