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I built an Incubator - TEST HATCH COMPLETE

post #1 of 44
12/27/08 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 

I built an incubator!!  I must thank MissPrissy and SpeckledHen.  It was their threads, which were so great that encouraged me to fall into this trap.  There is no stopping me now.

MissPrissy - http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8510
SpeckledHen - http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=43984

It did not take that much time to assemble once I had the parts.  The wiring, which I was most concerned about was not hard at all.  Again, great instructions.  The hardest part in my mind was bending that hardware cloth which is sharp and frustrating. 

I have been shopping for parts and pieces for the last couple of months.

Thermos Cooler - $2 at Yard sale.
PC Fan - Free from Friend
Fan Adaptor - Free from Co-Worker
Hardware Cloth - Already Had
Pie Pan for Bottom Water - $1 from Yard sale.
NightLight - Only thing I salvaged from one of those DOME Incubators (Never Hatched)
Hygrometer / Thermometer - Already Had
Light Ficture (Bottle Type) - $6.98 Home Depot
Hot Water Heater Thermostat - $8.57 at Home Depot
Plexiglass (1 on Ouside, 1 Inside) - $3.00 Ace Hardware

Still to purchase
Water Wiggler - Still searching for one.....
Corks

Total Cost as of now - $21.55

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj22/Familyofanimals/bIncubator1.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj22/Familyofanimals/bIncubator2.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj22/Familyofanimals/bIncubator3.jpg

Cynthia - I am almost ready!!!!!  How many eggs would you put in a cooler incubator this size?


Edited by ThreeBoysChicks - 1/29/09 at 8:26am
~~Ed     
I thank God for all that I have; 1 Wife, 3 boys, 4 dogs, 4 cat, 2 Horses, 4 Goats, 2 Katahdin Sheep, 9 Ducks, 6 Geese, 8 Guineas, 1 Turkey, and lots of chickens
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~~Ed     
I thank God for all that I have; 1 Wife, 3 boys, 4 dogs, 4 cat, 2 Horses, 4 Goats, 2 Katahdin Sheep, 9 Ducks, 6 Geese, 8 Guineas, 1 Turkey, and lots of chickens
Reply

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post #2 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:06pm

Nice job!!

LF Blue/Black/Splash Orpingtons - Appleyard Ducks - Geese - Bronze Turkeys - Dairy Goats - Fiber Sheep + eleventy hundred more animals
My Etsy Shop
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LF Blue/Black/Splash Orpingtons - Appleyard Ducks - Geese - Bronze Turkeys - Dairy Goats - Fiber Sheep + eleventy hundred more animals
My Etsy Shop
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post #3 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 

MissPrissy - I thought about you.  I didn't have Pink Tape...

~~Ed     
I thank God for all that I have; 1 Wife, 3 boys, 4 dogs, 4 cat, 2 Horses, 4 Goats, 2 Katahdin Sheep, 9 Ducks, 6 Geese, 8 Guineas, 1 Turkey, and lots of chickens
Reply
~~Ed     
I thank God for all that I have; 1 Wife, 3 boys, 4 dogs, 4 cat, 2 Horses, 4 Goats, 2 Katahdin Sheep, 9 Ducks, 6 Geese, 8 Guineas, 1 Turkey, and lots of chickens
Reply
post #4 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:11pm

Well, you did it! clap I'd say a dozen to 15 eggs laying on their sides would fit.One thing I did find is that I had to put some aluminum flashing as a deflector directly in front of the bulb or the eggs right there would get way too hot. The WH thermo, we tried, but never were satisfied with, though some people seem to have better luck with them. They have a wide swing, though you are looking for an avg internal egg temp.
What I would suggest is a dry run with just any eggs, which you'll toss later on. Dont have to be fertile, just need to be in there. Run it with your thermo/hygro inside for several days so you can work out any kinks and tweak it a bit. Put water in your pan and run it just like you would if the eggs were fertile. I find that there is sometimes alot of adjusting to do, but once you get everything set just right, it does okay. You can also calibrate your hygrometer and be sure the thermometer is accurate-those not reading properly are the cause of so many bad hatches.
Looks good, Ed. Let us know how the dry run goes!

 

~A dog on its owner's property is a pet; A dog on someone else's property is a predator~

 

 

Living the Good Life in the North Georgia Mountains~ Cynthia

 

 

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~A dog on its owner's property is a pet; A dog on someone else's property is a predator~

 

 

Living the Good Life in the North Georgia Mountains~ Cynthia

 

 

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post #5 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:12pm

Looks good!

You wish you were as awesome as me.
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You wish you were as awesome as me.
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post #6 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by speckledhen 

Well, you did it! clap I'd say a dozen to 15 eggs laying on their sides would fit.One thing I did find is that I had to put some aluminum flashing as a deflector directly in front of the bulb or the eggs right there would get way too hot. The WH thermo, we tried, but never were satisfied with, though some people seem to have better luck with them. They have a wide swing, though you are looking for an avg internal egg temp.
What I would suggest is a dry run with just any eggs, which you'll toss later on. Dont have to be fertile, just need to be in there. Run it with your thermo/hygro inside for several days so you can work out any kinks and tweak it a bit. Put water in your pan and run it just like you would if the eggs were fertile. I find that there is sometimes alot of adjusting to do, but once you get everything set just right, it does okay. You can also calibrate your hygrometer and be sure the thermometer is accurate-those not reading properly are the cause of so many bad hatches.
Looks good, Ed. Let us know how the dry run goes!


I have the Metal shell that was the Power Supply box from the PC.  That would work great, I think to shield the eggs just in front of the bulb.  Thanks for the advice.  I will definately do a dry run.  I think I am going to start tomorrow.  If they actually were to hatch, they would hatch the day after I leave for our mission trip to the Dominican Republic.  My 12 year old will be here and my wife.  Ben will do well to move them from the bator to the brooder, etc.

~~Ed     
I thank God for all that I have; 1 Wife, 3 boys, 4 dogs, 4 cat, 2 Horses, 4 Goats, 2 Katahdin Sheep, 9 Ducks, 6 Geese, 8 Guineas, 1 Turkey, and lots of chickens
Reply
~~Ed     
I thank God for all that I have; 1 Wife, 3 boys, 4 dogs, 4 cat, 2 Horses, 4 Goats, 2 Katahdin Sheep, 9 Ducks, 6 Geese, 8 Guineas, 1 Turkey, and lots of chickens
Reply
post #7 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:19pm

Looks great!! but what about that exposed hot terminal on the thermostat.Could be nasty

1 wife 2 daughters lots of Seramas and White faced black spanish and a few mixed layers
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1 wife 2 daughters lots of Seramas and White faced black spanish and a few mixed layers
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post #8 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:23pm

Have people found that the $9 water heater thermostats are adequate/reliable enough for incubators? How do they hold temperature compared to the ones in Little Giant GQF, Or Brower?

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post #9 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan 

Have people found that the $9 water heater thermostats are adequate/reliable enough for incubators? How do they hold temperature compared to the ones in Little Giant GQF, Or Brower?


I have been using one for over a year with many sucessful hatches.Mine is in a bator made from an old fridge.

1 wife 2 daughters lots of Seramas and White faced black spanish and a few mixed layers
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1 wife 2 daughters lots of Seramas and White faced black spanish and a few mixed layers
Reply
post #10 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:39pm

Well I'm impressed, wtg! I use strictly a light bulb for heat in mine, no water heating or thermostat or anything like it. I like yours better, but mine works too!
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj111/WriterofWords2008/Bators%20and%20Hatchers/P2280812.jpg
Forgot to mention, mine was built by 6th graders for a class project lol! We'll do yours this time.

If you aren't living for something, you are dying for nothing.

Don't trouble Trouble until Trouble troubles you!
My lady be wary and heed to the lines of this verse: To let a fool kiss you is stupid, to let a kiss fool you is worse.

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If you aren't living for something, you are dying for nothing.

Don't trouble Trouble until Trouble troubles you!
My lady be wary and heed to the lines of this verse: To let a fool kiss you is stupid, to let a kiss fool you is worse.

Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Incubating & Hatching Eggs › I built an Incubator - TEST HATCH COMPLETE