Semi-automatic egg turner

Boy, both those turners are the work of geniuses. I think an incubator is a good thing for my husband to make. He makes furniture in his garage (now shop). That would probably get him more interested.
However, after these eggs I have, I think I'll stop adding chickens, and I won't need an incubator anymore.

I Think you could use a Window crank handle attached to a rod through side of bator with a left and right stop/detent th hold it j

I would never attempt an electric anything, I am way to simple minded for something like that. If you are looking for a way to rotate the eggs as is done in the Foam Incubators I would just get a piece of string or thin wire attach it to the egg carton or whatever you are holding your eggs in and run the wire up through a small hole in top of the incubator. Marelo could drill a small hole in the top with a tack on the outside to attach it to. Then all you need to do is raise and lower the tray by pulling on the Wire and attaching it to the tack. This really is not better than placing a 2/4 under one side of the incubator and switching sides 4 or 5 times a day.

It is interesting to note that both of the incubators I have used with most success were the type where the eggs laid on their side just as if they were under the mama. If that is the method you use. You could use the same idea, make a grid out of welded wire and place the eggs between the spaces. Use the same wire attached to the grid and put a piece of wire on each side of the incubator then just pull it in either direction as many times a day as possible. Just make sure you have enough room on the side of the eggs to get a good rotation with each pull of the wire.

My TX 6 turns them each hour in much the same manner. The grid has to move about 3 -4 inches to get the eggs to roll.

jimnjay.. You clever person. Yes, I understand your plan with the strings or wire. that is what I will do.. Thank you.. again!

Didn't the eggs take up a lot of space with your wire grid method? And didn't you get cracked eggs?

Both of the units that turn in this manner are circular. In other words they are tub shaped and the turner goes VERY slowly as it turns the eggs. The same principal, however can be used in a rectangular unit. You just need to test it to see how much allowance you need to move the grid from side to side enough to turn the eggs. No doubt if will cut down on the number of eggs in each hatch. Then you will just have to hatch more often. LOL

Yes.. I can see how that works.. Anything that got a slight potential to make my hatches be more sucsesful is worth looking in to. TY!

How do you use welded wire? What kind? I guess you use some kind of wire that can bend to make tubes and weld them to the platform?

Chickens-246 said:

Please ask specific questions.

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Hi,
I like the concept for turning the tray, the hands connected to the motor, but I cannot see them very well, in detail I mean. Do you have any closer pictures of the hands or how the hands connect to the motor and to the tray? I think this is the way to go for what I need but I cannot figure out how to do this. Any help is appreciated. Thanks! Julio