Can you use a dehydrator to incubate eggs????

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btpeters

btpeters

In the Brooder
12 Years
Aug 26, 2007
72
0
39
Grafton Ohio
Just curious...can this be done?
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I read a short piece online about it, but there weren't many details. I'm assuming you would have to add a pan of water or something to add humidity. And of course turn the eggs a couple times a day. I've never hatched without a broody, but I'm getting a dehydrator here soon and the idea has been on my mind.

Has anyone ever attempted this or have any input on how one might go about it?

Thanks!
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I had thought about pulling the element out of a dehydrator and using it with a thermocouple but haven't seriously sat down and figured out the how to's and needed materials. Was thinking about using a dorm fridge as the box and fan..... should be able to do it, just not clear on how yet
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Anybody else?
 
Dehydrators suck the moisture out of fruits, veggies and meats, thats how it preserves. Incubation would need moisture kept in not out.
 
A dehydrator element is just a heat coil , with added moisture in a closed environment it's not going to suck out anything. Think Ronco food dehydrator (not the expensive forced air models) the heat coil at the bottom turns on, hot air rises up through the trays, pulling a constant supply of fresh air from the vent holes in the base and exits the lid vent holes along with the moisture from the food. If the body of the dehydrator was closed and insulated and the element temp is regulated, the heat and moisture remains inside, just like an incubator. If I'm not mistaken the LG's have the same type of element in the lid, correct?
 
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2txmedics... I'm borrowing your pics to show this:

Notice the aluminum colored bar in these shots?? Heating element, almost the same as what's in the dehydrators I have.
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Thanks KDBeads...that gives me hope enough to try this challenge:D

We are being given one of the newer, expensive models, but my hubby thinks he can figure out how to turn off the fan and such to rigg it.

Any other thoughts on the topic welcome!
 
Make sure you insulate it and have a heating coil/element. If you don't have an element use a light bulb. And if you hit up a few thrift stores you could probably find an old Ronco for $3, that's how I bought parts for mine
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I'm no expert but I'm a tinkerer, everything is worth a try unless it defies the laws of physics, and even then I might try it
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I just started following this after the wife asked if we should hatch some of our own eggs... I will keep an accounting of how it goes for me...
I took my dehydrator out and put some eggs in it on tuesday, I put a small bowl of water in the center and set my temp and put the lid on...
Everyday I check it in the morning before chores and rotate the eggs, and after dinner i rotate them again... both time I top off the water in the bowl if needed...
 
so an update... I have been checking the eggs regularly in my handy dandy dehydrator... and the results are hit and miss...

I currently have 4 duck eggs that are progressing well I assume as they veined and I could see heart movement at first but now they are darkening in that area.
1 goose egg a buddy dropped off to me is showing veins when candled and it's only from 5/4

however all 13 chicken eggs I put in there showed zero sign when candled... so after they had over 10 days, I removed them and broke them outside, seeing that there was no growth... I did have some of my duck eggs do the same but only 4 or 5...

I will continue to update as stuff happens / or doesn't
 

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