My MEGA Homemade Incubator Build

dheltzel said:

@DMRippy
, isn't it hard to reach some of the eggs to add, candle, or remove them? It seems like the only way to get to the ones in the back is to remove the ones in front and pull them forward, or pick out the individual eggs. I have one of the old-style Sportsmans, with metal trays that slide out fairly easily. Those trays are pricey ($25 each and they only hold 2 of the egg flats), but it makes it easy to manage the eggs.

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It is not hard to get to the back trays. The space between the racks is enough room to manuver around. I don't do much with them unless I am candeling eggs. When I do that they all come out. I do usually get the back tray first. Those trays and pins of sorts that will go down into the hardware cloth and keep them from moving most of the time.

Ok, I was just thinking I might not be agile enough to reach in there. Do you level the trays when you are candling eggs?
How far apart are the 3 trays spaced?
Have you had any issues cleaning out the incubator? I know you probably don't hatch in there, but a certain amount of debris still seems to get in there. I was planning to make it easy to remove the back for cleaning, just in case.

dheltzel said:

Ok, I was just thinking I might not be agile enough to reach in there. Do you level the trays when you are candling eggs?
How far apart are the 3 trays spaced?
Have you had any issues cleaning out the incubator? I know you probably don't hatch in there, but a certain amount of debris still seems to get in there. I was planning to make it easy to remove the back for cleaning, just in case.

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No I just tilt the trays to the door side. I might have to move them to get to some trays but it is no biggie.

IDK... maybe 8-10 inches? Might be in my original info.

I don't intentionally hatch in there but it happens. The insulation is easy to clean the wood not so much. Most of it is dry so it sweeps out easy. If an egg explodes I clean that up as quickly as I can. I set some eggs for my neighbor and one exploded and it is permanently on the floor of the incubator LOL. It is way to dry to get out without major scraping.

Usually something happens like the turner going out (when it was running) or the bolts on the trays get loose and need to be tightened I can remove the WHOLE Front. It is in 3 panels. Right, left and door panel. I can always spray it down with Oxine BUT really it does not get dirty enough to worry about. Cleaning these things are WAY over rated.

Saving

I know this is an old thread, but do you still use this incubator, and do you really only turn it once a day? What are your hatch rates like?

JenniferDuBay said:

I know this is an old thread, but do you still use this incubator, and do you really only turn it once a day? What are your hatch rates like?

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This is my only incubator and yes just once a day and hatches are VERY High. Most are close to 90-100%

How's that thermostat holding up? I've been burning through digital ones from incubator warehouse and I'm sick of it.....

donrae said:

How's that thermostat holding up? I've been burning through digital ones from incubator warehouse and I'm sick of it.....

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Still using the same one I installed when I built it. I have had to replace the one in the hatcher but I had a small heater plugged into an extension cord that was wired into the thermostat and I think it burned it up. The extension cord was not strong enough for the heater. I have that wired DIRECTLY into the thermostat now and it is doing fine. I just ordered a couple of extra ones from Amazon with F and not C for about the same money. I was going to build a smaller cabinet bator from a wine fridge but my son decided to get it working and now I can't get it back LOL.

5 years? That's amazing! I"m going to get one of those. the incubator ware house basics are lasting me about a season, and that's a pretty hefty investment for no longer than that. Plus, they constantly cycle on and off, the lights flash all the time and I think that makes them burn out faster.

Thank you.