Anyone else changing incubators this winter?

[Lil Zoo]

I'm just so happy. I've been tearing into my new/old incubator today I got yesterday

. It's a Farm Master 1200. Old Redwood made in the 1950's. I was told it holds 600 eggs, of course that is chickens I'm sure. It has 6 drawers and you pull out a rod to turn the eggs on each drawer. I think it is all there and in working condition. The inside components look awesome for it's age. We plugged it in outside and fan worked great and it started heating. When I get my sewing room re-arranged I will know more. A nice person on BYC sent me a manual. Sending some pictures. I feel like a 5 year old at Christmas time.


It needs some TLC on the outside.
I think this is the water tray fits in the top

It has 6 drawers.

Hard to see but drawer has flat rod that rolls the eggs

It has a hydrometer and a thermostat


This is the fan unit with the heating element around it. Note the water pan has 3 divided water sections sits in front of the fan. The fan ran great making only air flow sound. The little red light that tells you it's going even works. I got this unit for $200 and 177 mile drive. I was planning to build my own this winter, but decided to watch Craigslist for a while. Now I have to wait till spring to see my boys tails, and try this incubator and pray this happens.

I'm sure it will take some more experimenting but I can only go up from last year. (I Would HOPE). I can't believe this is all there is to them. It has a lot of vents to adjust on all sides. I may add a digital thermometer and humidity control. I plan to give it a lot of TLC this winter. Anyone else changing incubators this winter??

 

[Arbor]

Yes, got myself a GQF cabinet sportsman to add to the homemade one I run.

 

[Lil Zoo]

Yes, got myself a GQF cabinet sportsman to add to the homemade one I run.

How do you get along with the homemade one? How did you make it? I will have more than enough room with this incubator, but I was looking at all the different ideas on BYC and it is amazing the different ideas people have put together. I was leaning toward an old refrigerator or constructing a double walled wooden one with that sprayed in foam between the walls. I'm still thinking about making a hatch-er, because of increasing the humidity during lock down. Craig Hopkins gave me the idea of watching craigslist for a wooden one.

 

[Arbor]

I used fibreglass coated plywood (both sides are covered in fibreglass making it easy to clean) and made to whatever dimensions my trays would fit (basically same as a GQF, but not quite as deep). It is basically the same set up too, auto turner, homemade tray holders, thermostat and heating coil borrowed from a roll-x and a small desk fan. Door has a large window in it for viewing hatching chicks, and a small fluorescent light so I don't have to use a flashlight. If I have any, I'll post photos, but its been put away in storage for the winter.

 

[Lil Zoo]

I used fibreglass coated plywood (both sides are covered in fibreglass making it easy to clean) and made to whatever dimensions my trays would fit (basically same as a GQF, but not quite as deep). It is basically the same set up too, auto turner, homemade tray holders, thermostat and heating coil borrowed from a roll-x and a small desk fan. Door has a large window in it for viewing hatching chicks, and a small fluorescent light so I don't have to use a flashlight. If I have any, I'll post photos, but its been put away in storage for the winter.

Never thought about using fiberglass what a good idea. I really didn't need this big of a unit. It will hold more eggs in one sitting than I will have all year but so hope I can get better hatches from it.

 

[Haunted55]

I just bought the GQF 1588 hova-bator. For me it was worth every penny for it and the battery adapter. I am at the end of a power line and we are always losing power. I've had to use the car battery twice since I started using it in August. Works for me.

 

[Lil Zoo]

I just bought the GQF 1588 hova-bator. For me it was worth every penny for it and the battery adapter. I am at the end of a power line and we are always losing power. I've had to use the car battery twice since I started using it in August. Works for me.

That is a problem here also, we are the last on a long line. Sometimes I think I live in a 3rd world country every time it storms the electricity goes out. Usually it is only a few minutes, but occasionally for hours. I lost my first batch of eggs due to that last year. I have a generator, next year I am going to make sure it is ready to go if needed.