I always wanted to make my own incubator and now the job has been done. It is much more fun than buying one and I wanted to share my experience with fellow BYC members..
The photos will tell the story but here are a few notes.
1. I have cut a donated freezer in half and mounted the top half on a pedestal for easy access.
2. In order to calibrate the thermostat I used an old school min/max thermometer to constantly record the minimum and maximum temperatures over a 24 hour period. I zeroed the instrument every morning during the tests. I also installed an electronic hygro/thermometer and to my delight both constantly recorded the same temperatures.during the 5 day test period, so the old school thermometer can now go back to its place outside our back door.
3. The stones acts like batteries by storing energy (heat). The stones absorbs the heat and helps to stabilize the temperature inside the incubator by releasing the heat again during power outages or when I have to open the door to turn the eggs.
4. The cup filled with water and a sponge helps to keep the humidity at a constant level.
5. I have used the freezer's wiring and control panel and changed the compressor for the 60W globe and a higher calibrated thermostat for the original thermostat. (0C to 40C)
6. I have been running tests for the past 5 days. The temp. varies between 37c and 39c and the RH between 44% to 46%.- all within the acceptable limits.
7. Most of all, I had great fun making the incubator and I am looking forward to August when our breeding season starts here in South Africa. We are going into our winter now and it is too much of a challenge to keep the chickens warm.
ELECTRONIC HYGRO/THERMOMETER
DONATED OLD FREEZER
FREEZER CUT IN HALF
FREEZER MOUNTED ON A PEDESTAL
DOUBLE GLASS WINDOW
FAN MOTOR AND 60W GLOBE
CUP FILLED WITH WATER AND SPONGE
THERMOSTAT PROBE
OLD STYLE MIN/MAX THERMOMETER
ROCKS MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE
CONTROL PANEL MOVED TO THE TOP LEFT SIDE FOR
EASY ACCESS
CONTROL PANEL
The photos will tell the story but here are a few notes.
1. I have cut a donated freezer in half and mounted the top half on a pedestal for easy access.
2. In order to calibrate the thermostat I used an old school min/max thermometer to constantly record the minimum and maximum temperatures over a 24 hour period. I zeroed the instrument every morning during the tests. I also installed an electronic hygro/thermometer and to my delight both constantly recorded the same temperatures.during the 5 day test period, so the old school thermometer can now go back to its place outside our back door.
3. The stones acts like batteries by storing energy (heat). The stones absorbs the heat and helps to stabilize the temperature inside the incubator by releasing the heat again during power outages or when I have to open the door to turn the eggs.
4. The cup filled with water and a sponge helps to keep the humidity at a constant level.
5. I have used the freezer's wiring and control panel and changed the compressor for the 60W globe and a higher calibrated thermostat for the original thermostat. (0C to 40C)
6. I have been running tests for the past 5 days. The temp. varies between 37c and 39c and the RH between 44% to 46%.- all within the acceptable limits.
7. Most of all, I had great fun making the incubator and I am looking forward to August when our breeding season starts here in South Africa. We are going into our winter now and it is too much of a challenge to keep the chickens warm.
ELECTRONIC HYGRO/THERMOMETER
DONATED OLD FREEZER
FREEZER CUT IN HALF
FREEZER MOUNTED ON A PEDESTAL
DOUBLE GLASS WINDOW
FAN MOTOR AND 60W GLOBE
CUP FILLED WITH WATER AND SPONGE
THERMOSTAT PROBE
OLD STYLE MIN/MAX THERMOMETER
ROCKS MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE
CONTROL PANEL MOVED TO THE TOP LEFT SIDE FOR
EASY ACCESS
CONTROL PANEL
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