2010 HomeMade Chicken Incubator Contest - Win $20 Gift Cert. Ends 9/12

Wow, the posts are looking really good!

Okay, I think we've got all the submissions in the voting queue!

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE SUBMISSIONS IN THIS THREAD ARE REPRESENTED IN THE PAGE BELOW!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-temp.html


If you notice that your submission (or any other submission) is NOT listed please reply with the post # of the submissions and we'll get it fixed!

I know the contest is closed and I'm looking forward to seeing who won lots of good incubators to pick from, Is it too late to add to or update the entry page?

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Hi Elwood, I don't see any holes in your incubator to get fresh air in there. During all the time the eggs are in the incubator you need fresh air in there otherwise the embryos will die. The eggs separating gases which make it necessary to increase ventilation during the hatching process. I would suggest make some vents in the heat chamber so the fresh air heats up before it enters the machine. Place the bowl with water in the heat chamber and get a better humidity. If the humidity is too low increases the surface of the water. The humidity is too high, then reduce the surface by taking a smaller bowl. Circulates the air between the heat chamber and the brood area? I see only fans that blow air into the brood area. How comes the air back in the heat chamber?

My machine is doing great now and it hold the temperature constant 99.8 degrees.
The big test folows next year with eggs in it. The time to get little chicks her in the Netherlands is to late now.
Greetings Arie

Quote:
Hi Elwood, I don't see any holes in your incubator to get fresh air in there. During all the time the eggs are in the incubator you need fresh air in there otherwise the embryos will die. The eggs separating gases which make it necessary to increase ventilation during the hatching process. I would suggest make some vents in the heat chamber so the fresh air heats up before it enters the machine. Place the bowl with water in the heat chamber and get a better humidity. If the humidity is too low increases the surface of the water. The humidity is too high, then reduce the surface by taking a smaller bowl. Circulates the air between the heat chamber and the brood area? I see only fans that blow air into the brood area. How comes the air back in the heat chamber?

My machine is doing great now and it hold the temperature constant 99.8 degrees.
The big test folows next year with eggs in it. The time to get little chicks her in the Netherlands is to late now.
Greetings Arie

Hello Arie, Thanks for the suggestions.
There are a few small holes about a half inch in size to the outside on the back side of the box where tubing had been removed so some fresh air moves there, the doors are large and I open them daily till lockdown so all the air is exchanged and after lockdown I just open the top door daily I think that’s enough fresh air exchange to keep the eggs viable. There are also some smaller holes around the lower door where there had been screws for the handles and hinges.
I tried the water bowl in the top side but it gets too warm and the humidity runs way too high even with a smaller container so it sets behind the controls in the very bottom and one of the fans there blows across the surface of it and keeps the humidity right around 50% then for lockdown I made a wire rack that holds a cloth (I used a coat hanger and an old sock) up to about 5 inches above the water container and it wicks water up, the fan blows against that and brings the humidity to right around 75% so it works very well I haven't had any problems with fresh air or humidity.
At the back of the divider between the upper and lower halves there are slots that allowed air exchange when it was a working fridge I opened these up a little so when the fans blow down the air is forced back up through those slits into the heating area. These allow warm air to continue to rise up back into the heating chamber when it's in off mode so heat don't build up in the top of the lower half making the eggs too warm.
I checked temp in several areas in the lower half and don't have any significant cool or warm areas all have been within good range and average temp is 99.5 throughout.

Quote:
Hi Elwood, I don't see any holes in your incubator to get fresh air in there. During all the time the eggs are in the incubator you need fresh air in there otherwise the embryos will die. The eggs separating gases which make it necessary to increase ventilation during the hatching process. I would suggest make some vents in the heat chamber so the fresh air heats up before it enters the machine. Place the bowl with water in the heat chamber and get a better humidity. If the humidity is too low increases the surface of the water. The humidity is too high, then reduce the surface by taking a smaller bowl. Circulates the air between the heat chamber and the brood area? I see only fans that blow air into the brood area. How comes the air back in the heat chamber?

My machine is doing great now and it hold the temperature constant 99.8 degrees.
The big test folows next year with eggs in it. The time to get little chicks her in the Netherlands is to late now.
Greetings Arie

Hello Arie, Thanks for the suggestions.
There are a few small holes about a half inch in size to the outside on the back side of the box where tubing had been removed so some fresh air moves there, the doors are large and I open them daily till lockdown so all the air is exchanged and after lockdown I just open the top door daily I think that’s enough fresh air exchange to keep the eggs viable. There are also some smaller holes around the lower door where there had been screws for the handles and hinges.
I tried the water bowl in the top side but it gets too warm and the humidity runs way too high even with a smaller container so it sets behind the controls in the very bottom and one of the fans there blows across the surface of it and keeps the humidity right around 50% then for lockdown I made a wire rack that holds a cloth (I used a coat hanger and an old sock) up to about 5 inches above the water container and it wicks water up, the fan blows against that and brings the humidity to right around 75% so it works very well I haven't had any problems with fresh air or humidity.
At the back of the divider between the upper and lower halves there are slots that allowed air exchange when it was a working fridge I opened these up a little so when the fans blow down the air is forced back up through those slits into the heating area. These allow warm air to continue to rise up back into the heating chamber when it's in off mode so heat don't build up in the top of the lower half making the eggs too warm.
I checked temp in several areas in the lower half and don't have any significant cool or warm areas all have been within good range and average temp is 99.5 throughout.

Hi Bill,

That must be enough fresh air. That sock is a good idea. I hope that you have lots off little chicks in your incubator next time.
I open 3 times a day my incubator. I don't have automatic turners. I have made eggturners that I move by hand. I turn the eggs in less than a minute.
My machine is not as big as yours and I can insert up to 88 eggs. For improved circulation I fill it up to 66 eggs. I can not place more chicks. My cage is not big enough for this.
There are beautiful machines shown in this competition. Together we have shown that with limited resources we can make good incubators.

Okay, here is the HomeMade Incubator Contest Winner:

Elwood Lightfoot - https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=48473

We've also got two peeps tied for 2nd place (each get a 6 month GFM for themselves or a friend):

4HillsSumatras - https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=36989-cabnit-incubator
millejn3 - https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=52303-my-homemade-incubator

Congrats to all our submitters and winners!

All the incubators have been added to the main list here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-incubator.html

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How great is that. We really enjoied building it, but have enjoied hatching with it more. Nifty-How do we get upgraded for the next 6 months?

Thanks!

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Wow! I am soo excited!! there were some really nice projects in the contest so much talent out there, I was catching up on post on the Okie thread and saw I was being congradulated didn't know what for LOL I had some pic's to update my page with but had a recient comp crash and lost them so will have to replace them and then update it I'm 9 days into what is so far a very good looking hatch rate (yes couting before they hatch again I can't help it) Thanks so much everyone for all the input this has been a very fun contest I've had a blast and learned a lot indeed.

Congratz! I'll be hatching an egg in my incubator next summer, so be sure to check out my page for updates!!! I'll have to get some more updated pictures of mine.....